With “The luck of the Irish” still ringing in our ears we sat down to another excellent breakfast on the start of day 8th of our voyage. The previous night’s “race night festivities, having not only been, an extremely colourful, enjoyable and thirst quenching night, but also a very rewarding night in financial terms for one of our Irish crew, well done Anthony.
The weather was not as good as it has been so far on this voyage, being foggy and damp, but this did in no way dampen our spirits, so at 10.30am we departed Braye Bay, with an Irish callain, “Our girl Tracey” at the helm under the watchful eye of Chris, we said “Slain Abhaile” to Alderney, till we meet again. With Lord Nelson’s fog horn sounding out across the water we proceeded through Alderney Sands on our way to Jersey via a course that took us around the northern tip of Guernsey and into the English Channel. The fog lifted, and while it became colder, at least we had a clear view ahead. Winds were light so unfortunately no sails were hoisted. Happy hour arrived and with gusto the crew went about their cleaning duties, with a twinkle in their eyes and a spring in their step, oh the joys of “Happy Hour”. Smoko arrived and also did another excellent cake offering from cookie Dave, good on ya!.
Lunch came and went, some crew took time to catch up on sleep, read, play scrabble and generally relax. Chris announced that he would be giving a talk on the different types of sails on the Lord Nelson beside the main mast at 4pm. The time for his talk arrived but little did he know that he was about to be upstaged by a feathered visitor. A young Osprey had decided to land and rest just in front of the chart room not far from the main mast, and was greeted with much ohhs and ahhs and clicking of cameras, so much so that any Hollywood star would have basked in the attention. Chris with good grace waited until the spot light was once again turned on him, grasping the opportunity to give an excellent and enlightening talk on Lord Nelson’s sails. Then members of the permanent crew then gave a demonstration of rescue from aloft.
Around 6pm as winds had picked up it was decided to hoist some sail, a task well undertaken, and gained praise from the captain. Dinner was excellent and eve’s pudding for desert praise for the galley was plenty and free flowing. Just after dinner more pulling and heaving ensued as some sails were furled . An interesting and informative briefing was given by Captain John on the planning and reasons for the course taken by Lord Nelson and of the arrangements for berthing in Jersey next day. So as Jersey comes ever nearer and so the end of the voyage it is happy memories, new experiences and new friends that we prepare to take with us into our final day, and the thought that, yes, we will meet again. The craic was mighty, slaine, and may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows your dead.
Aft Starboard watch