Topic: Supplies & Storage

1-5. Mid Pacific to Heading South

Feb 19, 2005 - 2215hrs UTC

What a dreadful night, punctuated by a series of little tragedies all related to the loss of precious liquids. The front duly arrived, as usual at dinner time and, again as usual, the grib had the wind direction pretty much spot on but once again as usual, underestimated the strength by 100% so instead of 20 gusting 25, we get 40 going on 50. Two sail changes during the night as it increased, each requiring one of us to surface from warm bunk and dreams of Ingrid (was that her name, Kees?) and go through the Mr Bean routine and get wet and cold as well. … Continue reading

1-6. Below 50S

Feb 24, 2005 - 2145hrs UTC

2145hrs 24 Feb 2005 UTC 50’52”S 112’31”W Map Ref 79

Pete: Reflections, part 3. We were inDunedin, the xrays showed no broken ribs but alex would need a week to recover. this proved to be a blessing as it gave us time to evaluate the storage problems we had on … Continue reading

1-7. Near the Horn

Mar 05, 2005 - 0105hrs UTC

Sitrep: 0105hrs 05 Mar 2005 UTC 54’49”S 090’11”W Map Ref 99

I don’t know whether you will ever read this as it seems there may be a problem with the sailmailSailmail is the system that Berrimilla uses for email communication. It is a non-profit association of yacht owners operating a … Continue reading

1-8. Horn to Falkland Islands

Mar 09, 2005 – 2115hrs UTC │Pete’s Equation

Clench time Malcolm. Pretty much as predicted by the grib modified by the Berrimilla fudge factor – we’re now in constant W 50 going on 60 gusting 70 and I saw a 75. Howl becoming a scream. BIG waves – at least mast height, some breaking. Bare poling directly downwind at about 5 knots and apparently reasonably comfortable. All gone very dark as rain squall dumps horizontal rain and an extra gust for good measure. We had two storm jibs twin poled in a lull that we thought was a change but clearly wasn’t. Lasted about half an hour. … Continue reading

1-8. Horn to Falkland Islands

Mar 10, 2005 - 1315hrs UTC │Nocturnal Pneumatics

1315hrs 10 Mar 2005 UTC 55’49”S 072’30”W Map Ref 113

Daylight, sailing again, 7.5 knots directly towards the Horn. fingers, toes, ears, eyelashes and bootferals all firmly crossed. Pete has a long update, so I’ll jump – see yez. Nearest bit ofChile now about 60 miles away. Woo0ohooo.

Pete: Hello … Continue reading

1-11. South Atlantic-26°S

Apr 13, 2005 - 2330hrs UTC

2330hrs 13 Apr 2005 UTC Map Ref 165

Today has been, like the Curate’s egg, good in parts. Started in high good humour as the wind swung round to the south east and seemed to be settling in – we thought we had managed to hook into the SE TradesBands … Continue reading

1-12. 26°S-Nose Brazil

Apr 20, 2005 - 1100hrs UTC

1100hrs 20 Apr 2005 UTC Map Ref 176

It’s bite the bullet time out here for these little black ducks. We’re in the bottom of the tradesBands of NW and SW winds either side of the equator that blow with more or less constant speed and direction all year., but … Continue reading

1-13. Across the Equator

May 08, 2005 - 1030hrs UTC

1030hrs 08 May 2005 UTC Map Ref 207

We are almost exactly half way between Africa and South America, about 1200 miles NE of the mouth of the Amazon. Too far for any noticeable change in the colour of the water. Going just west of North which is as … Continue reading

1-14. Nearly to Falmouth

May 30, 2005 - 0615hrs UTC

0615hrs 30 May 2005 UTC Map Ref 260

i think i may have been in this bit of ocean before – i recognised a bit of it this morning – and i’m sure my father, who spent most of his life at sea, would have crossed this stretch many times. … Continue reading

1-19. Senegal and Pete's Birthday

Aug 31, 2005 – 0845hrs UTC │Alcohol List, Journey Home

0845hrs 31 Aug 2005 UTC 31’59”N 018’22”W Ref 323

DB: 24hr:127, total 1290/1320 sched = -30 so we’re getting back into it. In deep mourning for friendly little phone and the big chunk of my life’s database that went with it. Bereft, I am. And stupid. It will be sitting … Continue reading

1-21. Equator to Left Turn

Sep 20, 2005 - 0900hrs UTC │Boredom II

Response to Belmore South: Hiya to you all in 5/6K! This is Alex, but Pete will do his bit later. Thanks for your thoughts, John, Adelia, Merna and Daniel – we are really pleased to know that you are interested in what we are doing – perhaps we could encourage you all to work hard in class so that you can one day follow your own dreams too. Maybe that’s too boring a message! … Continue reading

1-21. Equator to Left Turn

Sep 20, 2005 - 1000hrs UTC

We had our normal Breakfast Short Consultation today, bulk billed, of course, with the medico from Dublin and then we decided that the crossing should be appropriately celebrated with a southern hemisphere based medicinal potion so – half and half Dr Bundy and ASDA orange squash was the go. Noice. Very Noice – thanks Dave and RANSA. This could become habit forming. … Continue reading

1-22. Still heading south south east

Sep 28, 2005 - 0530hrs UTC

0530hrs 28 Sep 2005 UTC 17’20”S 026’48”W Ref 390

The night started dark and overcast – gloomy and drizzly and very empty. We haven’t seen any sign of other humans since Pete saw a distant ship near the CapeVerdes nearly 2000 miles behind us – and I stood out in … Continue reading

1-22. Still heading south south east

Sep 28, 2005 – 0930hrs UTC

0930hrs 28 Sep 2005 UTC 17’36”S 026’50”W Ref 391

DB: 113, 9002 (gps 116) day 39/71.

If we have the plan worked out correctly, this is the equivalent point to our departure fromPort Stanley. It took us 71 days to get toFalmouth. We’re in a soft spot, #2, full main, … Continue reading

1-24. Closing on the Barn Door

Oct 17, 2005 - 1515hrs UTC │Sleeping and dressing

1515hrs 17 Oct 2005 UTC 40’08”S 004’55”E Ref 449

Wriggle, shimmy and glide – people ask us how we live in our little bus shelterExplanation here.

I sleep in the port (left) bunk – in which it is physically impossible to sleep straight or comfortable because the chain plate (big … Continue reading

1-26. Through the Barn Door

Oct 28, 2005 - 0837hrs UTC │Alcohol List, Stocktake

DB: dmg 103 – seems about right, given the adverse current and the overnight park. 69 days out, so in 2 days we will equal the Falklands – Falmouth leg in days, followed the next day by a Berrimilla record voyage. We have already sailed about 1000 miles further. … Continue reading

1-26. Through the Barn Door

Oct 29, 2005 - 1530hrs UTC

1530hrs 29 Oct 2005 UTC 37’57”S 024’55”E Ref 499

Today’s little tragedy – we went to a lot of trouble to preserve our cans of ale by covering them in wd40 and insulating them from the s/s ice boxes – and almost succeeded. I was doing a final count today … Continue reading