04/12/12 - Lord Nelson

Day 47 4th Dec

The 'Egg Drop Challenge,’ held yesterday, required each watch and the BM’s to throw an egg from the foremast platform, landing without breaking on the deck of the ship as far aft as possible.  Aft Port’s presentation certainly won the day with their accompanying music from Meatloaf (their egg was encased inside a fruit bat!)  Their launching system was equally impressive, using a complex rigging of bungees and a bikini top.  Yet alas, the bat struck the main mast and careered off to sea, never to be seen again! Aft Starboard’s egg-packed lemonade bottle bounced off the doti boat and onto the deck, effusing yellow liquid. Forward Port’s 'environmentally friendly’ packaging equally did nothing to protect their egg, which smashed on impact.  Bravest were the BM’s, as their egg assured them that it could fly with its specially-made cape.  Although it covered a good distance, it also crash-landed.  Suggestions that Arnold had hatched in mid-air were treated with a degree of incredulity!  However, we are proud to announce that Forward Starboard’s 'Soused Chicken’ beat the rest with its superbly sourced engineering products and was proclaimed the winner, the only competitor to safely land its egg on the starboard deck.  Captain Barbara tested the unblemished raw egg by smashing it on the deck – applause  all round for Forward Starboard’s feat! 
1400 hrs on December 4 and we have just handed the spanker sails; that includes the upper spanker, which Bosun Leslie in two years of sailing with the JST has never seen set before! It has been stellar sailing weather for the past 24 hours, with a total of 13 sails set and flying. Now with shifting and lighter winds,  we are (sadly) motoring.  Hopefully we won’t have to go through the palaver of stowing the Spanker next time we start sailing!

We are currently 120 NM North East of the Marine Sanctuary Arquipelago dos Abrolhos,just to the East of mainland Brazil. These are the first coral fields we will encounter, and it is a special treat to receive permission from the Brazilian Naval authorities for such a visit. We plan to anchor off Saint Barbara Island tomorrow morning and spend the day swimming, snorkeling and exploring  the reefs and islets before setting sail for Rio.
Forward Starboard: Ruth, Chris, James, Will, H, Sam, Betty and Henry
Czesc Mamusiu, jutro stajemy na kotwicy to moe sie odezwe. Cieplak po 47 dniach wreszcie stwierdzil, ze nawet jest ze mnie TROCHE dumny.Caluje Was mocno, buziaki xxxx
(Agata decided to hijack the blog keyboard, apologies).