Well here we are alongside in Portsmouth lying in the shadow of the Spinnaker Tower. The weather has been something of an experience this weekend, with the rain falling in stair-rods and the weather maps looking like a zebra’s backside! Undeterred, the voyage crew of LN 709 arrived at the berth to be greeted by Chris the Mate and their watch leaders.
Having found their bunks and decanted their belongings and been issued with foul weather gear, the new crew signed on and then Captain Neil Duncan welcomed them on board the Lord Nelson and so started a busy afternoon of briefings and drills. First the permanent crew members were introduced:
Chris the Mate, Alex the 2nd Mate, John the Bosun; Marco the Chief Engineer with Bill as the engineering assistant; Dave the Cook; Rachel the Medical Purser and the Bosun’s mates Ben and Victoria. Once all the introductions had been made, Chris began the safety briefings. This was followed by everyone who wished to, putting on climbing harnesses and climbing up the ratlines to the first platform and out onto the yards – a first for many! No sooner had their feet touched the ground again than it was time to bring the gangway back on board. So the new crew took up the heaving line on the starboard side and helped to safely stow this. Then the mooring lines were released and Nellie turned away from her berth to head out to our anchorage.
Then followed a lovely dinner of salmon fillets with new potatoes, green beans and a medley of roast vegetables followed by a pineapple and creamed rice pudding dessert, after which the messmen got into the swing of getting the washing up done and everything put away again. Then it was time for the new friends to unpack properly and get the chance to relax in the bar and get to know each other a bit better before heading to their bunks and dream of tomorrow! Zzzzzz
Rachel MP LN