Day 32

A fair, sunny day with chilly winds from the south.

Many of the voyage crew had expressed an interest in celestial navigation and yesterday, by popular request, Gary gave an easy to understand talk on the subject. He persuaded us that we did not need much knowledge of maths and stars and that learning how to work a sextant was not difficult. Unfortunately, some of us found simple numeracy a little troublesome.

At 1740hrs yesterday, we were a long way from anywhere, being equidistant from Chatham Islands and Cape Horn in one plane and Pitcairn Island and Antarctica in the other; the nearest land being 5000 metres beneath us. We are now on our way home.

Our watch yesterday evening enjoyed a dry, moonlit three and a half hours (the clocks went forward one hour at 1930hrs) with the added excitement of seeing two satellites and a space station overhead.

During the morning, the second exercise of reefing the topsail took place, should the need arise for a storm sail. The spanker has sustained a small tear and has been taken down for repair.

It has been an eggsilerating day, with preparations for the eggciting, eggstra-ordinary egg launch in full flow. Eggs will be launched from the main mast, the aim being that they should land unbroken, towards the stern of the ship. Points will be given for presentation, design, distance thrown, style of launch, actually landing on the ship and, most important of all, remaining unbroken on inspection after landing. Further details cannot be revealed at this point.

Bosun’s mate Neil, has been working very hard in preparation for lumpy seas, making for example, wooden boxes with fascinating designs, to hold items on the tables. He reports that he has finished those for the upper mess. The grand opening will be tomorrow.

Today also saw the next stage of the grand weigh in. Those involved have signed a secrecy act regarding the results, but Neil reports that he has reached his target of 100kg, having started at 95kg. {disclaimer: no weights taken at sea can be taken as accurate in the least as the scales used are hanging scales with the crew member swaying from side to side giving a variation of 30+kg either way Liz:MP}

We have seen a few more birds today than in recent days, with the first sighting of a light mantled albatross.

Teddy Singbad came out to enjoy the sunshine supporting his new red had made by Jenny

Forward port