02/12/12 - Lord Nelson

Day 45 2nd Dec

Today’s blog comes to you from the rambunctious (yes it is a word, look it up in the dictionary – we did) Aft Port Watch! We are currently on watch, sailing full and by under 11 sails at a speed of 5.5 knots over ground. The sun is shining, the sea is calm, there are a few vessels passing by here or there and the bridge is full of plotting as we discuss our mischievous plans for the egg drop competition happening tomorrow…I wonder how well a rocket parachute flare would go down?! Hmmmm maybe not :-

Roger is currently on the helm, looking rather fetching wearing the watch helm hat that we’ve made. It is a purple straw hat full of exotic fruits, although the banana seems to have gone missing! We have a new member in our watch…a huge welcome to Tulio from Rio who has joined us for our last leg of sailing in to his home city.



As a watch we have had a rather victorious time of late with Peter and Wayman winning the sweepstake by guessing the correct time of crossing the equator both within 20 mins and Roger and Peter named sporting champions of the Movember competition. Sally upheld the girls honour and was highly commended for her knitted effort too! Will also spiced up the murder game again last night and killed his victim on the helm with the mooring line. This leaves both Will and Natalie still in the game! Lets hope the winning streak continues in tonight’s quiz.





Evenings on the ship are very relaxing and most people spend them on deck keeping cool, having a beer, chatting and laughing. There have been a few games of the incredibly skilful and strategic 'Pass the Pigs’. At times it has been intense with a battle between the Scottish (Ali), the Welsh (Taff), the English (Nev) and the Scouse (Natalie). There have even been times when an external adjudicator had to step in to overrule! It has also been noticed that it is most definitely a spectators sport with crowds almost up to double figures in the bar watching on the edge of their seats!



The next plan is to possibly anchor over night at Arquipelago dos Arolhos in a few days’ time. From there on we will only be approx. 450 miles from Rio for what will be the amazing, no doubt over whelming and glorious finishing straight!



Now to leave you with a change of Polish for some Scouse…Errrrrrrrr alright laaaaaaa like. See us all at Christmas like eh laaaaaaaaa.



PORT AFT WATCH – Natalie, Will, Sally, Wayman, Tulio, Roger, Peter and Beryl.