The sailing crew joined today; there were so many of them, the permanent crew and watch leaders only out numbered them by 2! However we have 4 engineers so they can be called into action if we can drag them away from their usual exploits.
It is to be a three watch system during this voyage, so no time for cribbage competitions, just work, sleep, and eat. Bosun’s mates we have a plenty, Cookie has shanghaied one (Nigel the Welsh) to be his assistant. The other 3 have been assigned, one to each watch. They will have no rest at all, day work and watch keeping duties. Bracing stations is fun, as we are running between the masts to try and keep all the yards together, at least we will get to know all the crew; it looks like it is going to be an interesting trip!
Ahead of the Nellie is another small cruise ship, which is taking on board large numbers of sailing crew. One idea was to lobby them as they went up their gang plank and extol the virtues of sailing with the JST rather than the “Independence of the Seas”, the latest floating block of flats. The idea was scrapped; we would have too many takers and overload Nellie.
All hands at 6.30am Friday 7th. By 7.30 we were away into a red sunrise, slipping quietly from the quayside, while the port was just waking.
Peter
Watch Leader, Aft Port