Great excitement as today was the day we set sail. Not literally, to start with – leaving the quayside was the usual technical affair, with a team of 4 (Nina, Jenny, Dave and Tim) on the land to let off the mooring lines and set us free. They then stood and watched the ship pull away... Fortunately, the DOTI boat was there to pick them up, so the intrepid four were reunited with their fellow voyagers as we motored away from Gran Canaria.
Next on our itinerary was sail setting, fore and aft to stabilise the ship a little, bracing the yards to catch the wind, and setting the topsails and t’gallants. I’m sure this is mostly right – there were times when it was a blur of sheets and braces to be sweated and heaved. The number of hands available to help dwindled as LN reached the open sea – the North Atlantic swells made for a very bumpy ride, and laid low even the hardiest sailors. My stomach certainly felt as though it was gyring and gambling in a way that would have alarmed Lewis Carroll. With the few hands remaining we wore ship, changing course from NE to SW (ish!). Four people made it to dinner. Enough said...
4am Day Four feels much smoother and calmed stomachs were soothed with cream crackers, tea, bananas and cold boiled potatoes. An interesting concoction, not all eaten by the same person, you’ll be relieved to learn. Just remember that it worked for us!
...With that image hanging in the air, I’ll bid you farewell and remind you to tune in next time for the next thrilling instalment of: LN 760...The Canaries Fight Back!
AP Watch.