All material on this site is © Copyright 2005
Sitrep: 0600hrs 31 Jan 2006 EDT
Sitrep: 2000hrs 17 Jan 2006 EDT
Sitrep: 0730hrs 15 Jan 2006 EDT Sydney
Sitrep: 0654hrs 12 Jan 2006 EDT Sydney – picnic
details
Sitrep: 0730hrs 10 Jan 2006 EDT Sydney
Sitrep: 0134hrs 09 Jan 2006 EDT 33’52”S 151’14”E Ref
696
Sitrep: 0040hrs 09 Jan 2006 EDT 33’50”S 151’17”E Ref
695
Sitrep: 2045hrs 08 Jan 2006 EDT 34’05”S 151’17”E Ref
694
Sitrep: 1600hrs 08 Jan 2006 EDT 34’30”S 151’18”E Ref
693
Sitrep: 0045hrs 08 Jan 2006 EDT 35’21”S 150’40”E Ref
692
It's just two days short of a year since we left
But don't go away just yet. It has been suggested that we should keep the website going and open it to other passsagemakers - the more difficult and exotic the better - they write, we post. you read - so that you - and we - still have real time stories to follow. I like the idea but it may take some organising - Brian and Jen, the Lazenbys, perhaps, Nick C (whose suggestion it was) and all y'all who told us about your plans and dreams, get in touch - please - if you are interested and we'll see what we can do.
And we have a book or two to write. We will keep a progress
check on that one on the website as well. Pete may write later as we get closer
to
I don't want to send this - it's the beginning of the ending...the Vogons are rustling their crib sheets...
A grab bag of final thoughts before demolition day - and a coming home party?
North of Wollongong, duly celebrated in accordance with custom. 08/1600
For the Lazenbys - lightning conductor - I'm not qualified to advise - read Ewen Thompson's website www.marinelightning.com I think but there's a link on the Berri site in the preparations document. The short answer is you don't need one until you get struck but it's a really good feeling to know it's there when the lightning is zapping into the water all around you. Ewen also advised us that the safest place for satphones, handheld GPS, mobile etc is in the microwave if you have one, or in a metal box if you haven't.
John S - I've looked at the formulae for storm sails in the Blue Book - I think Berrimilla's are quite a bit smaller than the formula would allow. And they work very well indeed.
Sunrise at Point Perp - great slabs of grey brown rock tinged delicately pink - Kris, do you remember the pink line as the sunlight went down the cliff - you told me the technical term but I've forgotten? It has just happened.
And for Steve Jackson - thanks aren't enough so you get to run
a marathon - lucky lad - but thanks anyway. You took on what looked like a
little job minding a family contact website and it turned into a full time
operation, along with your other two full time jobs and you didn't flinch or
walk away and there are 105000 hits out there to testify to the amazing job you
have done. Gratitude, appreciation, thanks in abundance from Pete and me and
our families and I'm sure from the many people out there who have appreciated
what you have done. And to
Incidentally, Malcolm has just won his division in
And thanks to Fenwick who is here with us on the final leg for huge effort with shirts and stuff, and especially to all y'all who have sent us donations to help with the communication costs - Thank you all.
And - once again - thanks for all your wonderful emails and Gust Book entries. I am going to print them all and read them whenever life gets difficult or lonely.
Then there's Berrimilla - what a boat! Time for a bit of TLC -
she's looking very much as as you'd expect after being bashed by the world's
oceans but everything works and we didn't break anything although a couple of
swages in the rig were looking pearshaped by Falmouth. We didn't lose a winch
handle. Just the liferaft and some battens. Onya Berri. I hope Peter Joubert
has noticed and approved. Thorry, I meant to ask you about that in
For everyone within reach of Sydney, we will try to organise a DIY coming home party in the next few weeks - probably a picnic in a park somewhere not very far from Rushcutters Bay and we can put Berri in the pond at CYC to take part - BYO everything and clean up afterwards. We will put the details on the website as soon as we can so watch this space.
I'll send this one now so that Steve can post it today and I'll sign off the gig once we're through the Heads. At this rate, that will be around midnight - so only one day short of the year and a day closer to the joys of Vogon poetry and homelessness for the two old farts. The old but shelter has been a fun home for the year and we've got a huge pile of cans for the demolisher.
We've been motoring most of the way from Eden and we're still
motoring - into a couple of knots of current and a gentle north easter. It just
might allow us to complete the journey in style with the big purple and gold
kite ghosting up the harbour as
Two seals basking together in a big clump of seaweed - flippers raised, lolling back until they heard us coming and rolled over and dived, coming back up behind us to have a squizz at these noisy humans disturbing their peace. And a couple of acres of dolphins leaping and splashing across our path. People abseiling on the cliffs of the National Park. Big haloed half moon behind some cirrus and aircraft taking off and landing over Botany Bay with their strobe lights playing amongst the stars. A brightly lit ship on the eastern horizon. We seem to be almost home. No feeling to it yet - somehow motoring just doesn't grab the viscerals.
Caro - thanks for that very interesting bottle and glad the dog behaved. Yellow snow indeed. Next the Iditarod.
The rustling of Vogon crib sheets is deafening. 42184 metres down, one to go. Boxing Day, 2005 to January 9th 2006 - more than 30000 miles, 260 odd sailing days, three races, some silver thingies, one tiny one and very special, an amazing track on the website, a real spaceman, rolling warehouses in the southern ocean, all dreamed up in serious Consultation in the bus shelter in the studio. It never really happened at all, and the stack of cans just grew and grew. Where will the dogs go to pee next week? And the pigeons?
More in about three hours as we get to South Head. The Examiner has relented - the wind has backed a little and we're sailing. Noice - just south of Bondi which is lit up like a cruise ship on steroids. About an hour to South Head
Sitrep: 0040hrs 09 Jan 2006 EDT 33’50”S 151’17”E Ref 695
[ed: rounding South Head]
And, like all good things - it's over. We rounded South Head at 09/0040 and ghosted up a flat calm, silent harbour to the pond at CYC at 0134, a year and two weeks after we left on Boxing day 2005. A final Consultation with the whole crew - Jeanne, Sarah, Fenwick, Pete and me in the cockpit and a few hours sleep and - lovely Sydney -it's raining and here we are, gigless and gormless, bangless and without a whimper, with the demolition bulldozers being unloaded, the Vogons clearing their throats and a coming home party to organise - watch this space - I will keep you posted. There's a mangy dog sniffing around and the pigeons are having a last splat on the roof - not enough wind to blow the cans around the concrete floor...
A last listen to Derek's dulcet gravel on his 0725 sked and a final sign off for Berrimilla before Derek retires at the end of the year. We're going to miss him.
Thanks, everyone - it's been a gas - and please don't go away just yet.
With love and best wishes from
Alex.
Pete is going to write the epitaph later. I think - he's still asleep...
Demolition day and the coming home party.
I can hear the roar of the bulldozers starting up even over the dreadful drone of a phalanx of Vogons scratching and farting and interrupting each other as they read their poems.
We'll have to find somewhere else to stack the empties.
Berrimilla is back on her mooring looking serenely scruffy -
and just a bit smug. She knows she done good. Eerie feeling putting her there -
I remember vividly moving her to CYC before the 2004 S2H (thanks for the
correction Ian and yes, you're on the
list of marathon runners - onya mate) and wondering - trepidating actually -
about what the next year had in store. And now I know but I can only remember
it in little snatches, mostly to do with looking out of one of Berri's windows
and watching the water going past. But there are the logs to read - I'll have
to start on them myself soon! Had a 'well done' phone call from the
I'll take Berri up to RPA this week and roll on some antifoul and a bit of polish and then it's into writing articles and the Book. Watch this space.
Dianne - sorry I didn't answer, and yes, we were tethered to the boat - some of the time!
Looks as if we will have the coming home party under the trees
near the seawall just to the south of CYC in
Pete and I will be under the trees just to the south of the side gate to the CYC near the sea wall on Sunday January 22nd from 1030. For the locationally challenged, that means next to CYC on the New South Head Road side of the club house. Look for the Rolex Fastnet flag. Ed: … or try this map]
We' d love to Consult with anyone who can get there and we'll stay till everyone leaves. This is very much a DIY Consultation - we will have a limited quantity of medicinal compound available but please bring something to eat and drink, the kids if they are interested and a garbage bag to take away your empties - there are no rubbish bins in Rushcutter Park and we should leave it as we find it. Non members can get coffee and ale at CYC if you sign in and you live far enough away.
If it is raining, check the website that morning.
Berrimilla will be 50 metres away in the pond at CYC in case anyone wants to inspect her. We will try to have some souvenirs available and we'll bring the RORC trophy and the Fastnet medals.
Odds and Ends
If anyone passing through the Great Berrimilla Coming Home
Consultation next Sunday has a Berri shirt or, indeed anything else that they
would like signed, bring it along - we will have a couple of fabric pens handy.
I have also started cutting up the old faithful No. 1 genoa that took us a lot
of the way around and I should have some sticky labels to go with the pieces in
case anyone would like a genuine souvenir with the salt of all the world's
oceans in it. Actually, Brian Shilland cut it up - he who made it in 1993 -
only the artist is allowed to destroy his artwork! It has travelled a very long
way since then and who knows where all the pieces will end up? There might be a
story in that somewhere.
I have just read the draft of a book based on Berrimilla's travels - purely
fictional, but using the logs and an interesting take on the whole adventure -
by a well known author in the UK. It has been fascinating talking to him and
seeing how fiction is created around actual events. No title yet and probably
won't be launched in Oz for a year or so after the UK launch but I'll keep you
posted. If it sells, he will make a donation to CanTeen, so buy it when it
comes out!
For the Marathon runners - I got out on the road during the week and again this
morning. Not an inspiring performance - the legs don't work like they used to
and will need to be chivvied. I have now completed about 7 of the 3500 or so
kilometres that will be necessary to get me past the Cutty Sark and down the
Mall in reasonable time. Dave, how did you go with the Poole mob? Happy
to help with advice if needed. I expect to be in the UK for most of the three
weeks from March 21 to April 10 so perhaps we could arrange a run somewhere,
followed by a Consultation - Ian, Dave and Katherine, where are you all and
I'll see what we can do. I will send an email to all the runners with my email
address so that we can stay in touch.
Neil CA - thanks for your kind offer and I'm glad you are back in training.
Must be a really good feeling. I found a photo of you on the internet! I'll be
in touch before March 20 and perhaps we can meet in London.
[ed: Photo of Mal and
Steve, Web Slaves – one and two taken the night before
Berri arrived in Hobart]
Sitrep: 0730hrs 15 Jan 2006 EDT Sydney
[ed: Well, what do you
know. Yet another award, this time the Award of Merit from the Ocean Cruising Club in the
UK. Honoured. It reads:
Dear Alex and Pete,
re: OCC Award of Merit for 2005.
I am very pleased to inform you that the Committee of The Ocean Cruising Club has decided to award you one of the two, 2005 OCC Awards of Merit which is for ‘performing some outstanding voyage or achievement’. This is awarded to you for your wonderful achievement of completing your circumnavigation and including two, successive Sydney to Hobart’s and the Fastnet Race all in the space of one year (plus a few days!) in your, relatively, small boat: Berrimilla. You are two, huge people in the eyes of yachtsmen throughout the world and for “two old geezers in a battered old boat” you have shown the rest of us what sheer guts and determination can achieve and all done with a sense of humour and lots of time to respond to the thousands of email comments and queries.
Well done and many congratulations on your achievements on behalf of the members of a worldwide club of long-distance sailors.
The Club’s awards are, traditionally, presented at the AGM Dinner which, this year, will be held in The Royal Thames Yacht Club, 60 Knightsbridge, London SW1 on Friday evening the 7th April, 2006. It would be most appropriate if you could both attend as dinner guests of the club, to receive the award yourselves in person. However, if you are not able to get there, and it would be quite understandable considering the distance involved, you may want to elect someone to receive the award on your behalf. Either way please let me know so that I can arrange for the accompanying medal to be given to you. Incidentally, I am planning a trip to Australia at the end of April and there may be an opportunity to make a presentation then.
The evening will include drinks, the Presentation of Awards followed by dinner and a short speech given by a guest speaker. Dress is reefer jackets. For your information, our club was formed in 1954 by Humphrey Barton for long-distance sailors (you have to sail 1,000 miles across an ocean in order to qualify!) and now has 1,800 members worldwide.
Once again, many congratulations.
Yours in sailing,
Erik Vischer
Chairman, Awards Sub-Committee.
…. And don’t forget,
Sunday 22nd Jan at 10:30am, here]
It has been a hectic month and I've been neglecting the website - my apologies. It is very difficult to believe that any one would be interested in the humdrum but it seems there are some of you out there who want me to drone on so here goes.
The party was terrific (photos here) - thanks to everyone who came along. We got there at 1000 to get the table set up and some beer on ice and the first
partygoers were already there waiting for us. Living in Sydney is thirsty work! As intended, it went all day and people arrived and left as they liked. We had a steady mass of about 40 people around the tree all day but if you were to have checked the faces every hour or so, about half of them would have changed. We had the trophies on the table plus lots of dried food packs and other bits and pieces - scrap books of press clippings, Pete's photos, the Brolga Register - in which we now have details of 16 Brolgas and a Cape Barren Goose (and if you are its owner and reading this, you didn't leave us any contact details - please rectify!). We know of 7 more Brolgas but have no owner's name or any other details.
Robin brought us a lovely hanging mobile with messages for Berri from all the other RANSA boats and even some CYC ones. Thanks Robin.
And there were lots of people who are not sailors but were interested in the logs or the journey, plus some old friends with Adastra connections.
Doug brought us copies of Henry Knight's diary of the voyage of the Java in 1853 - harrowing to read and we were really glad that we said Hi to young Henry on the way past.
We tidied up and left the park at about 1830 - tired and happy.
I now have to go and bring Berri into the pond to have her surveyed so that I can use her commercially under dispensation. I will write more this evening.
For the marathon runners- if I ever needed some incentive to get out there and bash the tarmac, look at this photo. My belly has almost the same girth as our circumnavigation - panic - I need my towel - there's no instant transmogrifier in real life and that looks like at least 5000 k's worth. Erk!
All
material on this site is © Copyright 2005
