Boat mail from Sunergy about Heads and Things

by Campbell Field on 27 Nov 2005 From: SUNERGY AND FRIENDS LEG ONE DAY 15
Sent: 26 November 2005

Position: 8,52.10S , 32,22.11W
Speed: 15 knots, Course: 160 deg.
UTC Time: 26. November 2005 09:49


Hello all from the good ship Sunergy and Friends. We have finally escaped our most recent meteorological hurdle, in a small ridge that was causing us to be almost hard on the wind yesterday, and have changed from a #1 jib to our much bigger reaching jib. We are sailing along at 14 to 16 knots of wind at 80 to 90 TWA, at 15+ knots of boat speed. A bit bouncy, but hey, nice and fast.

The bouncing around raised a question from the junior in the fleet, that is slightly relevant to yesterday’s list of things we'd love to do but are going to have to wait 10 days for: using a head (toilet) that is not trying to buck you off. Poor old Becksy (Mark Bartlett) hasn't spent enough time at sea to learn all the techniques required for different sea states and different heel angles, and as such, has been more keen on the ‘al fresco’ method rather than risk an angry heads. If you look very carefully at the photo to be uploaded from our media station via Inmarsat Fleet 77 satellite today, you will see what I mean. No need to be embarrassed or to censor.

Anyway, Becksy's question was, what do you do when down south - in the cold and bleak Southern Ocean? There was a bit of a pregnant pause by all, waiting to see if he was joking, but alas, no, he was deadly serious. We all of course naturally will use the head, at our own risk, but were wondering whether his concerns were the temperature? (never heard of frostbitten buttocks before), the threat of a large wave catching you with your pants down? Apparently the discussion went on for an hour, of course with big laughs at Becksy's expense.

A disappointing response to date on Mark’s retribution for avoiding Queen Codfish and King Neptune. Please note that as soon as this gross misdemeanour was exposed, the wind came aft and increased by 5 knots. So, we anticipate that a suitably applied punishment will bring the wind all the way aft and increase by 10 knots, so we are waiting for your responses.

We have decided to put all the suggestions into a hat, and let Mark draw one out. There will be a ‘get out of jail free' card in there, which will mean that Mark will suffer no punishment on board, but will have to take the entire crew out for a night on the town in Cape Town in order to relieve us of the stress and angst that we have gone through caused by his essentially sticking two fingers up to King Neptune and the wind gods. He may even have to do this in any case.

It's 0945 on Saturday morning as I type this. In my other life I'd probably be wandering up the High Street market in Lymington, trying to stop my dog from stealing other people's hotdogs. That all seems a million miles away, physically and metaphorically, as I am sure that the brief descriptions of life on board here are similarly separated from your lives.

Just had a holler to go on deck and change to a smaller reaching jib. Gotta run. Enjoy your Saturday off!

Cheers,
Campbell Field.
Navigator, Sunergy and Friends.