Mars Down Under

Celebration at the Chainlocker -Isabella W

"Consultation? any chance of a second opinion?"

4951 00511 The Examiner strikes again.

We seem to be stuck here off the Lizard. The tide is expected to start flowing from the west any time now but there's no sign yet and we're still being pushed back towards Canada. Not having fun and the wind is going to build from the east tomorrow. Poo. But it doesn't look like tonight for Falmouth right now. Sorry and we'll try to keep you posted.

----------

McQ: Tuna Pasta

As EVERYONE knows, any self respecting voyage is not complete until the LAST evening meal of the journey- tuna pasta- is finished. DARN tuna pasta. I cooked tuna pasta TWO nights ago. It was SUPPOSED to be the last meal on board!!! But here we are two nights later... it turned out I was a bit pre-emptive with the tuna pasta and those VICIOUS Atlantic wind gods had a good chuckle to themselves as they brought us to a standstill and dashed my optimistic hopes for a late Friday Falmouth arrival!!

4937 00826 Oh the frustration!

140 to Falmouth - closing with a vmg of a nanominipooptillionth of a smidgin of a knot. No guesstimates, but sometime next century.

Update via satphone / Isabella in Devon. Just took satphone call from Alex / Berri. Frustration palpable. Alex asked me to post this info direct to website: Currently parked 93 miles West Bishop Rock. No change expected 12 - 24 hours. Then expecting some easterly wind which will hit them on the nose. No concrete news re putting in to Scilly, or eventual ETA Falmouth.

K: Pesky dolphins

I'm sitting here in the nav station listening to the water swish past the hull and the dolphins swim along side us. I can hear them squeaking and whistling to each other. Wonder what it is that they're saying? I was standing up on the bow earlier, doing the Titanic-pose thing, and there were 5 dolphins swimming under the bow of the boat. Every time Berri dipped her nose into a wave I could just about reach out and touch them, if they'd let me. So close in fact that I was getting splashed not by the waves but by the dolphins breathing when they surfaced. Very special. Very special indeed.

5006N 01351 W

5006N 01351 W289 Bishop RockAbout 300 west of ScilliesCurrently stonking along, but all could change. Might go on to Falmouth if current stonk continues, which could just possibly mean a Friday evening Falmouth arrival.

Satphone relay 5108 01751 (08.10z) 15/09/08

433 miles to run to the Scillies. Around 4 days. Still not enough wind for Lizzie, so everything down to glow-worm level. More as it arrives. Best, Speedy.

POSTED BY BERRIMILLA DOWNUNDERMARS AT 09:10

Satphone relay 09.00z 14/09/08

They've got the kite up. Though not enough wind to run Lizzie. So satphone until there is.

Best Speedy.

5202 02229 St Mary's here we come.

Been looking at the options and as we will be passing so close to the Scillies, it would be silly to pass up the opportunity to call into St Mary's, get the donk fixed, have a beer and leave so as to get to Falmouth in daylight. So that's the plan, but as you all know, most plans don't survive the first contact with the enemy - in this case the Examiner - so we'll wait and see. We're about 6 days out from the Scillies.