17/02/13 - Lord Nelson

Our First Day on Lord Nelson.

Well for some of us, a few of us have sailed on the Lord Nelson for quite some time already.

We all came together for our first meeting at about 14:00 for an introduction to everything you could need to know about being on 'Nellie ’including the penalties for blocking the heads! 15 minute break for 'smoko’ with Chef Dave’s homemade cake, a treat before being told it was time to go aloft. Not mandatory but …… So on with the harness – not sure if anyone left on board capable of fathering or bearing children – and we climbed the rigging like ants, belay that, sloths and hauled ourselves onto the platform but it didn’t stop there as we then went one by one out onto the yard, hooked on of course, "look Mum" no hands!" That was the end of our first day’s duties, tG! This morning we were all bright-eyed and bushy tailed and after breakfast, as much choice as most hotels, and after 'smoko’, it was time for our own personal Martian to tell us which rope moved what and then we learnt how to untie them and then – tie 'em back up again …. After that we put on the gloves and practiced moving the yards namely – wait for it 'cos have to remember this – coarse, top, t’gallant and royal. This consisted of a watch – group of people – one side of the ship 'sweating’ –nautical term for pulling – on a rope to move the yard assisted by a watch on the other side loosening their matching rope. Then yup, you’ve got it, we 'sweated’ to pull them back again …… AT LAST it was time for the off and prospective stowaways were ferreted out and sent ashore, the gangways were pulled on board and mooring ropes untied, all to the sound of a local group singing to wish us 'Bon Voyage’. Sadly the wind was in the wrong direction so no sails as we steamed away. Here I digress to tell you our Watch Leader 'Popeye’ has just been sick, what chance for the rest of us or the two dolphins who were sailing happily by!

All smiles from the port aft watch team: Allan, John,Lyn,Chris,Maggie, Ann,Liz, Peter,Justin.