They say only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun - it's gorgeous out here and the madness is clear in the number of volunteers for anchor watch at 4 tomorrow morning! We spent last night anchored a little further off the French coast than expected, but considering the lovely French coastguards who came to let us know it was difficult to be too annoyed.
We set off around 07.30 and began to cross the English channel. Shortly after leaving we saw a fishing boat in the distance that was on a collision course with us!! We thought they may not have seen us, so we sounded 5 short blasts of our whistle. Because we had no positive response the officer of the watch made the decision that we should do a 360 degree turn, thus avoiding a collision with a French trawler! (We had to mention the fact of the vessel being French!)
Today we've had beautiful weather with a sad lack of wind, so sails have been in, out and shaken all about. A lot of time has been spent lounging on deck, with a few eager beavers climbing up to the top of the mast.
We also got to enjoy a fantastic (and enormous) birthday cake in honour of Tom's 20th today - we're all grateful to him for having the good sense to be born at such a convenient time.
Speaking of the fantastic, yesterday most of the crew took the opportunity to go aloft. Everyone was excited and nearly everyone had a go - James hauled himself up, Eleanor co-ordinated her leg-brace impressively and everyone pitched in to haul Helen and chair up to the platform. Brilliant experience all 'round.
Our only real problem, then, is we're running out of sunscreen. It's a hard life on the ocean blue...
Kay, Rose, Rachael, Kevin, Darren, Sue, Chrissie and Beth