12/07/12 - Lord Nelson

Well, we were sailing across the Bay of Biscay under full sail, in
a good wind with no undue weather to cope with. Little did the doctor know
that things were to change! A call from Race Control had us handing all sail
and motoring back on ourselves to send me aboard a much smaller vessel to
assess a sick man and eventually take him on board Lord Nelson, where we are
well equipped to tend the sick. Sounds simple but a bit of a shock to me.
Kitted out in an immersion suit, size 10 boots (normally 6) and looking like
a Telly Tubby, I was encouraged into the DOTI boat at night and across the
waves to go to a 'tiny' yacht where I had to scramble on board and assess
the patient and bring him back to LN. I suspect he was in better shape than
me when we got back! Thanks to Mate Steve, Mr Chipp's and lovely Fred the
Fish, I felt safe throughout. So we are now on our way to La Coruna to
offload our patient to the medical services and to spend the night. Dr
Fiona.