Challenger 2 Location
49 46N
006 25W
1017Z
Hello Gail, Niall, Rory, Oisin, Kuba, Simon, Brambles, Daisy & Barney!
Apologies for the delay. We’ve been working like dogs since you left us with this sadistic tyrant (Adam)!!!
So, we’ll start at the very beginning and bring you up to speed on what’s been happening. In order to do so, there are a few terms you will need to know – Adamisms.
He is constantly harping on about this thing that starts with a ‘C’ and rhymes with dommunication. Needless to say, the crew are flummoxed. Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
Arms like fire
PLF – Pull like fire
JAFSS – Just another fecking sunset
JAFSR – Just another fecking sunrise
JAFD – Just another fecking dolphin
Man–up – stop being a big girls blouse
Open your angry box – get cross – this may help you to man-up
Hairdresser – the wrong way to turn the winch
CF (Charlie foxtrot) – apply for definition if required
Now for the banter:
Day 1:
Jen’s thieving tendencies are realised for the first time. Poor Kate woke up after an awful nights sleep without any pillow, complains to Jen about this, at which point, Jen (kindly) offers to give her one of her 2 pillows! Much laughter ensues! Kate promises to get her back.
Also discovered on this day, Alex snores like a dying whale. Everyone plans on seeking revenge!
We have a surprise poet onboard – Neil.
“Keep an eye on the clouds; but keep your head out of them!”
Status update on Jack – still awake!
Day 3:
Left Cork – very excited. Heading for Kinsale. Loving the boat – sails much heavier than expected. Will never complain about furling jib on Jessy again!
We ALMOST made it to Kinsale before smoke started gushing out the back. Having just dropped the sails, there was a slight rush to get the main back up and the engine switched off. Never before has such a measured and calm response been witnessed on the high seas, as that by the current crew on Challenger 2, as Captain & Mate crumbled under the pressure!!! We swiftly dropped the anchor and Daniel got stuck in fixing the engine. Always good to have a fully qualified diesel mechanic onboard – thanks Daniel! The crew on deck set about picking up transits to ensure the anchor was set. Luckily, three of us took separate transits as Jacks was soon found to be a shooting star! So, with the engine back in working order, we raised the anchor and headed on for Kinsale. At this stage, there was a slight tide issue and we found ourselves giving the ground a gentle momentary gentle love-nudge! But the tide returned in no time and once again, we set off and made it in to Kinsale shortly after 11pm.
Mutiny attempted….. failed.
Day 4
MOB much harder on this boat.
Mutiny attempted….. Failed.
Day 5
Sailing to Falmouth (pronounced Foulmouth) an ancient historic reference to the potty mouthed folk of the Southwest!! We woke up early Thursday morning and did some jobs on the boat before setting off. Prior to departure BDBT (BirthDay Boy Tones) was sent aloft to reattach bungee to the staysail halyard blocks. The beaming smiles from above were hard not to miss and highly infectious. Photos to follow…
We left at 1330 with Darren doing pilotage out of Kinsale. He dabbled with death (and nearly got it from Ads) as he swerved several times attempting to dash our vessel into the rocks!
Once out of Kinsale, we hoisted the sails and knocked off the engine. When this is done, the shaft must be jammed off to stop it turning (the shaft-break). While this doesn’t appear to be hugely complicated, it was grossly misunderstood by Arnie who thought he was being asked to do something with the “shark-break” which he believed protects the boat from sharks. We laughed.
Nelly Furtado, AKA Twinkle-tits (Neil) took over as navigator shortly after.
We did 3 hour shifts that night which was great fun. The headsail change took the 2300 – 0200 crew (Ginger) from 2300 – 0200!! Obviously, quite a bit of gruelling work involved! The main was reefed by the other watch - the sharks.
Our Captain has admitted that we didn’t suck entirely, but there’s AMPLE room for improvement!
After a long night, the gingers were looking forward to a few hours kip… But this was not to be. As we write this, we are running low on sleep, but not on enthusiasm! All in all, very challenging but spirits are high and there are smiles all-around.
Mutiny about to be attempted….. Failure expected.
Signed off by The Crew & Adam the skipper of Challenger 2
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