Photos From Rio and Cape Town

In Rio with Mike who left in Rio and will be back to teaching maths!

The beaches of Rio were packed.

Doing the tourist bit!

Leaving Rio

Karen, who took me cycling in Rio.  Also on Haggis watch.

Keith, Haggis watch leader.

Pete, Nicky and Catriona on look out.  Zoom up the picture and you'll see us arriving in Cape Town

Captain Birdseye Arrives in Cape Town

Leaving Cape Town (Me on the bow, saluting)

Me and Pete Baldwin

Where on earth did they find someone in Cape Town to play the bagpipes?

Canapes on the spectator boat at race start!

Firstly sorry there are no photos in the blog but am having trouble uploading them at the moment.  Mandy will put some on for me in the next couple of days.

Well quite a different leg but the same result! Yes, we came 10th, but you all already know that as you all know more about the race than we do on the boat, I gather some of you are seriously hooked. Keep going we need all the support we can get.

Some great friends left the boat in Rio and were sadly missed, but it also meant we had fresh blood on the boat. The three of them on my watch (that's Haggis watch) were George from Norway, Dan from Italy and TT our Scottish/Ukrainian nurse from London who is part of the transplant team. I really enjoyed the first week with new people and lovely sunshine but it went a bit downhill from there! I fell victim to what the skipper called the Tartan Trots and spent 48 hours in my bunk with my head in an empty Haribo tub. I am very rarely sick but when I am I really make up for it, apparently Keith said I sounded like a wounded bear and it was enough to make everyone else feel ill. You don't get much sympathy out here, I have to say that if anyone had sent a taxi at that point I would've got in! 2,000 miles of sea in one direction, 2,000 in the other and 5 miles below is a lonely place. Anyway eventually I felt better and able to eat yet another Twix, part of the quarter of a Tonne of chocolate delivered in Rio.

The middle section of the journey brought rough seas and huge waves, very wet and cold all the time. It was blowing a force 8 one morning at 4am when a reefing line snapped with me 12 feet up the mast, Keith wrestling the wheel and Karen being knocked off her feet by waves on the deck. At the time you just get on with it but afterwards you realise just how scary it was and what could've happened. The weather systems were just all wrong and not how they are meant to be in the south Atlantic, no lovely downwind sailing with the boat flat, it was all upwind so very uncomfortable for us all.  It was a real highlight to meet up with HMS Edinburgh and it lifted our spirits, quite unnerving for Gordon to suddenly see them appear on the radar steaming towards us at high speed.

The final section was ok, we made good speed towards the end but once again a bit frustrating to be 10th. In our crew meeting we had a long chat with Gordon and are encouraging him to be on deck more and improving our deck skills. This worked for a few days before he resumed his attachment to the nav station. We are working on him for the next leg! When the first boat arrives in Cape Town and you are still 500 miles away it really hurts. Mandy, Pete and Nicky arrived on the Monday and we didn't get there until Friday lunch time, I am assured they weren't sitting waiting for me though and seem to have had a good time without me. Not sure why we went into stealth mode just before we arrived, probably just to draw attention to the fact we were last!

In Cape Town we had lots of boat jobs to do, sails to mend (with Mandy's help) and recheck and repack. Nick's mum had done most of the food shopping and organised it all into bags for each day.  Some of the guys took the winches to bits and serviced them and various other boat jobs so everyone was busy. That's the worst thing about coming in after everyone else, you don't have much time to prepare for the next leg and you don't really get much time off. On our one day off we managed a trip around the winelands of Stellenbosch and Franchoek which we really enjoyed and had lots of evenings out with the great food and wine of the Cape. Our accommodation was a brilliant apartment on the waterfront right opposite where we were moored and best of all it had a washer and tumble dryer, needless to say we were popular with a number of the other crew and we should all smell better at least for the start of the next leg.  Unfortunately it did not have wifi as promised and so I have not had chance to reply to emails, if you sent them I HAVE read them and I love reading them so please send more and I will try my best to reply in Geraldton.

Having arrived in port looking like captain birdseye, I trimmed my beard and went to have my hair cut in the mall on the waterfront. The guy shaved my hair which was fine but then proceeded, without so much as asking, to stick a cotton bud with blue wax on it up each nostril and in each ear! He then left me sitting in the window whilst they dried........obviously this is normal practice in South Africa, Mandy wishes she'd been there with the camera. Worse was to come though when he swiftly removed them but one got stuck up my nose and took him three attempts to get out, eventually with tweezers. Will not be recommending this to hairdresser at home but will dine out on this story for years to come.
All too soon it was time to leave, I did feel quite nervous about getting back on but having spoken to everyone I think we all felt the same.  However, we all thought that we wouldn't want the boat to be leaving without us on it so we must love it really!  Sadly Lesley had to fly home to see her dad so missed race start and therefore this leg, we are all hoping he is ok and that she'll be there to carry on in Geraldton.  At race start I was nominated to be the one standing on the front saluting the statue of a famous Cape Town sailor (sorry I don't know his name)as we passed through the swing bridges of the Victoria and Alfred dock and out to sea for the parade of sail in front of the world cup stadium and table mountain.  I'm sure there are some brilliant pictures on the website as it was a really lovely day. A few of our Edinburgh supporters came out on a boat organised by Nick's mum Lucille and apparently, as we struggled manfully on, were eating canapes and drinking fizz! Shame we were only 9th over the line but there's a long way to go.

We have been told to expect storms and huge seas for the journey to Australia (didn't think they could get worse than the ones we had already seen!) but at the moment we are stuck in a wind hole going nowhere!

Thank you all for your support, the cards and emails are wonderful and give me a real boost and its lovely to know that you are all watching closely and that we haven't been forgotten.  I have promised to try to do a blog more often than once a leg and I will try but it's just so exhausting on board that all I want to do when I come off shift is eat and sleep.

Catch up, end of leg 1

First leg. Well we made it at last. A massive thank you to all the supporters and thanks for the mails it is good to hear what's happening at home.

I'm sure you are all probably experts on the race and know more than I do.  We get to know very little while we are racing. The nav station where the computer is is permanently occupied by the skipper who uses it as his living room!! Need I say more.

Life on board varies in its comfort depending on what point of sail we are on, if the boat is flat it is so much easier than if we are beating into the wind and believe me the boat can heel over. When it is on its side and crashing through the waves life is very uncomfortable. Just moving around the boat from one grab rail to another on a wet floor is almost impossible.

We have various watch times, two 6 hour shifts 6am - 12 noon , 12- 6pm, then 4 hour shifts 6pm-10pm,10-2am 2am - 6am. we are woken up 20 minutes before shift change in order to get our clothes on and have to be on time on deck otherwise it's frowned upon as people are tired and ready for bed.

Every 7 days we take it in turns to do Mother watch - the cooking and cleaning for the whole boat. so porridge and cereal for breakfast. Large porridge pan a pain to wash in salt water then rinse out in fresh with tiny sinks and foot pumps for the water.  Then off to clean the heads (toilets),it's horrible, 2 baskets to empty one of used toilet paper !! which is put over the side. One of wet wipes we have to keep in the rubbish till port. . We have 2 toilets (pump as you dump) one with a seat which keeps breaking, thanks to Chris for mending it.. The use of these at 45 degrees is an art and hence they can get a bit messy. Back to mother watch, cleaning of all grab rails throughout the boat , bilge emptying , then time to make bread, after you've washed your hands of course! 4 loaves a day are required if possible , we have a bread oven but my last attempt rose too much and there was bread everywhere it was like a volcano! Lunch is sandwiches with canned Tuna or corned beef. Soup if we feel like more work. I made chocolate brownies which went down well, ok so not that clever you just added water. But more washing up. A few hours off in the afternoon before preparing tea. This consists of a very repetative menue of spaghetti with a sauce  or rice with something added. We eat tinned peas, tinned beans, sweet corn , cous cous as a meal, yes as you may know not mine or a few other peoples favourites. Depending who is making it it could have a spice or herb added to make it more pallatable but there is always sweet chilli dipping sauce to cover up the taste. I always make myself eat what I can as you really need to eat for the energy.

One of the girls, Lesley, works for Mars and we had the most enormous amount of chocolate ,Mars MandM s and Minstrels, deliverd to Southampton. Some people seem to live on these. In Rio we have had another quarter of a tonn of M+M's and twix delivered so have given a lot away as this is equivalent to 5 people in weight . Perhaps should have given it all to Gold Coast to slow them down!

Showers.- none really on mother watch we are suposed to be able to have a dribble of a shower in one of the Heads but it is not worth it . I did wash my hair with a cup and bowl once but otherwise no shower for 3 weeks! to be honest you get used to it Nick Constantine one of my friends gave me some army wet wipes like flannel size which were really good, thanks Nick please send more! Also thanks Pete for the surface wipes they kill every germ dead and people love them as they smell so stong they seem like they must kill everything. More of those please!

Anyway back to duties after tea washing up takes a while, clean the heads again then wash the floor in saloon and galley and that is it, mother watch over, and for that your treat is that you get to miss the next shift and have an extra long sleep. So 9-10pm bed then either up at 6am or can be 12 noon dependent on shifts.

Wild life- The most amazing thing is the abundence of fying fish they were everywhere accross the atlantic not just the odd one but whole shoals like starlings would take off from the side of the boat and would sometimes fly for 100m. In the morning we do find some on deck and a few crew have been hit by them in the night!

Dolphins we have seen a few but the best was one night we had phosphorescent planton in the water so as the waves break or the boat goes through the water it all sparkles like glitter. A dolphin came to visit and as it moved and darted through the water it left a trail of glitter like a comet fantastic to see.

About 5 days from Rio we went over an area where the depth of water went from 1350m to 100m and it was quite rough weather with big waves. I am not exaggerating we saw beteen 30 -50 hump back whales they were everywhere doing tail waggles or breaching and some fin slaps. Quite often they were in pods of 2 or more . We actually had to steer past them. I was on the helm steering and really nearly hit one it was 6 ft from the front then dived down and came up 10 ft from the side of the boat. Some were huge but lovely to see from a distance...... not so close please.

Time- some days go really slowly having 3 sleeps a day sometimes not sure what time it is and never know which day it is. So each day can feel like 3 and I think it can only be described as glacial.... nothing happens fast, the sea just goes on and on and on day after day. The last week was vey frustating every day we woke up and it was 3 days to Rio like a nightmare always 3 days to go. but we eventually made it.

Rio- We have spent 2 days doing boat jobs then checked into a Hotel, really nice to have a bathroon and bed on a level. We hired bikes and did the beaches and city one day. Yesterday we did the Christ statue and sugar loaf mountain with a spot of lunch thrown in, very good. Great to see the sights.

Back to the boat today to see how the second sail we broke is which we could not mend all ourselves and it had to go to a sail loft, this comes back today and I need to do some more work on it before it is ready to fly.

Next Leg tomorrow. Unfortunatly the forcast is for upwind sailing all the way to Cape Town so the boat will be on its side all the way not fun. We will do our best to do better in the placings lets see what happens.

At least it will not be as hot as it was in the equator Chris my farmer friend on board said one morning about our sleeping area " Even my cattle have better conditions and ventilation than us"

I am sure there is much more to tell you about the people on board but 5 have finishers and we have 4 or 5 new people joining for the next leg. The chaps leaving were great and will be missed, thanks to you all and I enjoyed sailing with you very much.

More when I get to Cape Town, bye for now and thanks so much for all your support.

Love David

Atlantic Night Shift

Thought you might like a bit of an insight into a typical four hour shift, mid Atlantic.

Get up at 2am but can't decide whether it is 2 or 6am shift. Come round a bit and try to remove PJ shorts from sweaty body still lying on the bunk. The shirt and shorts from last night are still wet and clammy. On deck I announce my presence as we all filter up to relieve the previous shift. It’s light winds and we are not doing well in our speed or direction. Within the first half hour the wind starts to pick up and we decide we'd better retrieve the windseeker (the light weight sail) from the foredeck. The boat is really heeling over and safety harnesses on we stagger, squatting or on hands and knees, up to the bow.  The first wave strikes and immediately drenches me to the skin and the sea water stings my eyes, oh well I was still damp from last night.  We move the sail back to a safer position to pack it into a bag. Only 2.45pm the wind picks up and we are doing well, the boat rocketing along but now slightly overpowered so we let the main sail out a bit.
The wind builds and Keith the watch leader calls for the Number 2 Yankie to be brought on deck.  Three people are sent down below to push the sail up through the sleeping quarters hatch, the other shift are asleep but they are probably oblivious, you learn to sleep through most things. The sail is brought up and lashed to the deck in preparation, then heavens open and it pours down, soaking wet I stand by the helm as main sheet operator to let out the sail if we get hit by a squall I feel like a sheep trying to shelter in the rain behind a wall. The fresh water washes the salt from my hair and face but it’s a bit chilly and it’s still only 3.45am. It’s hard to believe but the wind starts to drop and the Yankie 2 we got up and ready isn’t needed. The wind drops further, so much that we slow down until we are hardly moving, the sails flap and we wander the ocean in any direction the wind wants to take us. This continues for an hour before it freshens and we are on our way again. All this in a 4 hour shift!

Then shift over it’s back to the hot ghetto to peel off the wet clothes
and hang them somewhere on the bunk to steam, they won’t dry of course but
we have 6 hours to try and sleep before the next shift. At least it will be light then. I have leant to take each shift as it comes otherwise it can
become overpowering, one shift at a time as they say!

Will blog from Rio!

Madeira

Hi chaps , just in Madiera now after a 10 day race from Southampton. After the big send off weekend it took a while to settle in to the daily life on board especially as you will have seen we had to drop the anchor twice , I thought I had signed up for a sailing trip! We eventually got going when the wind picked up and turned the corner into the Bay of Biscay. Things got a bit choppier then and we broke the clipper record for the most miles done in 12hours not much consolation though when we got to Madiera last. You can imagine how I felt about that( come second you've lost). Life on board takes some getting used to each day seems to take a long time to go by as you are up and back to bed three times in any one day,. We have been non stop mending and making things I have spent hours and hours on rope sipping and sewing of storage pockets and various other things. The food is quite good really, lots of pasta with sauces and rice with curry. Not a lot of meat . We have a lot of Mars bars and minstrels on board and haribos so they supplement the diet. Mike at work is running a sweep stake on my weight loss. So update is a bit has gone but still got the tummy rolls! Seen a few dolphins and heard some whales in the distance at night blowing. Other than that got see Madiera's spectacular mountains as we came in. Mandy and Penny and her friend Lara were here to meet me which was great. However because we ripped a spinica in half , actually more than half we had a good attempt at destroying it and I am in the sail mending team (of 2) we have spent the whole stop over in the sail loft with the sail streched out sticking, ironing and sewing . I would never have believed we could have mended it but this trip is full of highs and lows and after 17 hours constant work with Mandy grafting away on her knees we eventually pieced it all together. Next race starts today down to Rio 3.5 weeks so let's see how we do. Our team are all good but we need to focus more on sailing rather than mending the boat. The winning team were very focused on the sailing with their skipper driving them on and pushing them to the limits , he had them sitting on the rail for four hours at a time , and that is what you need to win. Our boat is a bit like a sunshine cruise compared.  The skipper very much leaves us to our selves to sail the boat so maybe we need to be more focused. Anyway enough of that next race 7 hours away so need to get going . Love to you all at home and thanks for all the support at the send off weekend and keep in touch through the email I will try to reply in Rio. Cheers David 

Thursday.......I think

Not really sure what day it is and am very tired, on mother watch today so been up since 2am and it is now 1.30pm.  It's been a very frustrating race start, we went out into the channel and there was no wind, in fact on two occasions we had the tide against us and we were going backwards so had to drop the anchor! The 3rd day was once again slow along the coast of France. Eventually we managed to get into the Bay of Biscay and the sea became lumpy and the wind blew quite strong. I was watch leader for 2 shifts as Keith my main watch leader was on Mother duty. it all went well with highs and lows but it was the longest 4 hours because I just wanted it to finish without incident.  I suppose I'll get used to it the more I get to know the boat. Today (I think it's Thursday) we hit another wind hole so progress poor and the other boats are further south and nearer the land so we are not doing very well but there's still a long way to go. Not sure if we are going to make Maderia in time to see Mandy and Penny, it is just so slow. 

Everyone onboard is great and we all seem to get on ok not personal friends or anything as really early days but no arguments or stress although a few people are ill. 

Thought this might help Mike at work with the weight loss sweepstake

We've got the media on board so loads of filming and interviews.
Thanks to all of you who came to see me in Southampton, what and amazing send off you were all brilliant and I loved being able to hold the Olympic torch, thanks also to everyone who sent cards and best wishes.  I hope you are all following the race viewer. Must go as Skip needs the computer!

Farewell Poem

Poem written for me by Ritrama one of our paper suppliers, John Dean you are brilliant, thanks.

Clipper round The world

David Webster the explorer!!!!!

A little rhyme to send you on your way
Around the world for many a day

In sailing yacht you will go
How long you’ll take no one knows

Yorkshire boat we thought you’d do
but it seems you’ve joined the Edinburgh crew

This trip you’ve planned for many a year
And now your time is finally here

What a trip it’s going to be
I only wish you could take me

 A year off work you must take
And no more labels you will make

Kevin and Zena will run the show
I’m sure they’ll give it a good go

Ritrama will help with good supplies
I’m sure that won’t be a big surprise

We’ll also help supply the grub
And take Phil for his regular sub

Mandy your wife you leave behind
But as always you’ve been kind

A little dog you have bought
To keep her company what a nice thought

While you’re away you become FIVE O
who’d believe this I don’t know

Your silver wedding you also miss
25 years of wedded bliss

But your ambition you must achieve
And you will do it we all believe

So now it’s time to start the trip
Hold on tight and get a grip

40,000 miles you must travel
All 8 legs to unravel

Your first leg UK to Brazil
What a journey what a thrill

English channel, Bay of Biscay
Through shipping lanes along the way

Through the Canaries middle or starboard
A decision for your captain on board

The trade winds come as some relief
And through the doldrums with great belief

Arrive in Rio and all that heat
The relaxing sound of the samba beat

Four days off but please don’t gloat
You need to plan and restock the boat

Christ the redeemer will send you on leg 2
With some old friends and some new crew

Destination Africa the journey goes on
3390 miles hopefully in sun

Clear nights you’ll see the stars
 So clear you can almost make out Mars

Spinnakers will be the sail you choose
This race you don’t want to lose

After many days and many nights
Africa should be in your sights

An African welcome awaits you in harbour
And maybe a trip to an African barber

Maybe a safari you will take
While on your little African break

The wanders of the Stellenbosch
Bloody hell David you are so posh

Then back on board you must get
back to sailing and getting wet

The Southern ocean sleigh ride awaits you
Along with old friends and new crew

Parade past all the waving crowds
The vuvuzela can be so loud

Cape of Good Hope awaits your yacht
Time to give it all you’ve got

Strong winds expected on the way
Use them well and you could gain a day

Inky blackness in the night
But GPS will keep you right

Large ocean swells everybody knows
The crew they must be on their toes

And soon Western Australia you will reach
And lay upon that sun kissed beach

Relax and have a beer or two
And maybe an Aussie barbeque

Watch out for the Aussie Pommy bashers
And remind them all we won the Ashes

Relax and get your land legs back
Enjoy the break and the Aussie craic

Because you know you’ll soon be
On your yacht back out at sea

Leg 4 Cape Leeuwin waits for you
Along with crew old and new

Another trip along ocean wave
David I do think you’re brave

South past Tasmania look out for the devil
Keep the boat straight and on the level

The Pacific Ocean you will reach
Before your next stop on the beach

Your next sleep in a decent bed
Will be the next stop in N.Z.

One little entry for your diary
Will be the warm welcome received from the Maori

The Haka they might do for you
While you sip a beer or two

Then back on board for a short skip
To Eastern Australia a pleasant trip

Maybe another barbeque
You may even see a kangaroo

Then back on board and what will amaze ya
Flipping heck you’re off to Asia

Into prevailing winds up the Gold Coast
say goodbye to your Aussie hosts

Pass Papua New Guinea on the way
At sea for Over 30 days

The next stop is in Singapore
Who could really ask for more

Cosmopolitan City a bit of high life
And maybe a call home to the wife

Then back on board to China you sail
you must keep going you cannot fail

Thermals on it could get cold
You might even see snow we’re told

Spinnaker up you know how
The next stop China, Port Qingdao

Here you continue on your path
And may be asked for the odd autograph

We can be heroes the old song goes
In China your reputation grows

And now the mighty Pacific to conquer
Some people may think you’re bonkers

But it’s a challenge you must do
I’m sure you can you will get through

Qingdao California 33 days
5680 miles along the way

I’m sure this is somewhere you will get
But it would be quicker by jumbo jet

Pacific rollers every day
Will help your yacht along the way

Tracked along by the odd Albatross
As young people say proper boss

When you feel the warmth you’ll know it’s time
For some California Sunshine

When you arrive you know you’ve beat
The mightiest ocean, what a feat

The next leg you may enjoy the most
America from coast to coast

California to Panama
Don’t worry it’s not that far

Inshore or offshore you must decide
Which wind is best to help you glide

Engineering wonders with your pals
Sailing down the Panama Canal

Through the locks down and up
Trying to win this challenge cup

Through Caribbean waters with oceans blue
Will take another day or two

Then to New York from the west coast
The Statue of Liberty will be your host

Again you’re treated like heroes
And moored up next to ground zero

Sights to see Empire State
See the Yankees with your mates

Central Park you’ll be in heaven
As you finish off leg 7

So to the final leg we come
But still the race is not all done

To Canada only a stones throw away
you will arrive there in 8 days

The warmest welcome you will receive
And stop over for a short reprieve

Then back on board you’re homeward bound
To the Irish Coast European ground

13 days when seas may be rough
You can look forward to a pint of the black stuff

Then a short trip to Amsterdam
Your nearly there you are the man

Buy some tulips for the Wife
One more day she’ll be back in your life

So then it’s back to good old blighty
With a Toast to your yacht that has been mighty

Champagne reception will welcome you
Along with an old friend or two

Back to England to a normal life
Back home to Mandy your wonderful wife

A wonderful adventure you will of had
Remember the good times not the bad

Dolphins whales you’ll of seen them all
I’m sure you’ll love it and have a ball

 Good luck to you I wish you well
I look forward to the stories you will tell

Please come back soon when you are able
Back to making sticky labels

A John Deane production copyright reserved July 2011
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