Tenacious is back on the net! Apologies for the lack of updates. We had a technical problem, but we're now back up and running, so I think a few words are long overdue. We came back alongside in Southampton a week ago and TNS 224's voyage crew departed. You may remember them - I think the last web report mentioned boys in dresses and girls in bin bags and wellies! Yes, they're the ones.
Tuesday to Friday of last week was taken up mainly with maintenance. We had some maintainers onboard, doing all the usual tasks; laundering bedding, sanding, prepping and painting several bits of the ship, re-stowing the Galley store, changing light bulbs, varnishing doors, making and fitting shelving, cleaning escape trunks etc. We also had a watch leaders' course on two of the days, so the ship was fairly full, and certainly a hive of activity.
Saturday, Sunday and today have been ‘day sail’ days. We leave the wall about 0930 and set off down Southampton water. This morning we were able to set sail and shut down the engines within about 10 minutes of departing. We sailed on through North Channel and out east into the Solent where lots of the yachts participating in Cowes week were out racing. Just before lunch we had to hand sail and head back west under power, but it meant that the ship was upright for a particularly good lunch, turned out by Hammie and her team in the Galley.
Afterwards, we sailed back up the Thorn Channel and up past Fawley before the wind died and headed us and we had to resort to engines to get back alongside on time.Tomorrow we've got a few things to do alongside, then we're out again on Wednesday.
Update By: Simon, Captain