09/04/12 - Tenacious

9th April 2012
At long last we have spotted something on the radar shortly before the end of our 8 to midnight watch. We are certain there was something so we all looked but even though it was only 1.5 nm away we could not see any lights to identify this 'boat’ as it drifted past slowly to our port. What was it???
Strangers passing by – there were a few wet eyes that we had missed this brief encounter – are we already in the Bermuda Triangle??
The Forward Port watch must have smuggled aboard a cockerel as it woke us all this morning with its crowing. Maybe it was this possible misdemeanour that prompted the Captain (Simon) to exercise the permanent crew in finding a stowaway – the voyage crew were mustered at the stern of the ship and Bosun Glenn dealt with toilet requests by indicating to the wide, wide ocean behind us.
The wind continues to be in completely the wrong direction and the sea is like a mill pond, the only sail that Tenacious is wearing is a Spanker! Under the strong beating sun are the rations going to last to Bermuda???... Captain’s promised a further wind assessment later we are all hopeful that we will get the square sails up later today.
Read more tomorrow Bye for now…

10th April
And they’re off, all squares set on the foremast, everything bar the course on the main, racing along at 6kts for Bermuda, the 12 to 4 watch enjoys some sun, splicing and canadian blues. Delicious brocolli and stilton soup and hot rolls for lunch. Sighting of humpback whales 6:05 to 6:10 this morning. Looking for more. Lots of sun and lovely white caps. Sunbathers up in the bow sprit netting- trying to shake them off…