Cricket @ Windsor

A day in the sun on the lawns of the Royal Cricket Club, Windsor followed a great evening at Henley Festival with our friends Steve & Lesley and Steve & Karen.

The match was between Middlesex and The Royal Cricket Club, It was all so elegant, relaxing and beautiful; such a delight!!

Okay, fine, now wake up girlie, smell the coffee, time to get some money into the charity box.

You must all know by now that I have set myself the impossible task of raising £10,000 for charity this year and probably next as well!!

I have raced a 70ft yacht for over 4000 nm from San Francisco to New York; taking in Jamaica and Panama. I am organising a Golf day at Temple Golf Club on the 29th August and a bike ride from Bath to Reading on the weekend of the 6/7th September.

This is an open invitation to you all to join in the fundraising.

Gailx

seniororsailor.blogspot.co.uk

justgiving/seniororsailor

Melios

I have just been reminded, by a friend from Cyprus, that I haven't updated the news about Melios; the puppy who found us on the beach in January.

Melios spent a very happy 6 weeks, preparing to travel to Braywood Farm, with Jackie at A Kennel With A View, near Limassol; his veterinary  care was in the hands of Doctor Yiannis of  Avdimou Village and we are very grateful for all their love and care.

When Melios found us he was emaciated, he had a piece of twine around his neck which was cutting into his throat and he was so weak he could hardly stand.

He has grown into a strong, happy chappie and we spend hours searching out new places to walk or more to the point sniff!! He is a great companion, full of energy, into everything and always up to mischief.

Russ is often challenged by Melios, being a lifelong cat lover it must be tough!!!

He is a year old this month and it is time to start some serious training, I will keep you posted as to how he/we are doing. 

On Reflection, It's A Funny Thing!!!

It's A Funny Thing!!!

It's a funny thing! When I was on the boat the physical side of life was hard. Now I am off the boat the mental side of life is hard.

How do I explain what is inexplicable to me? On the boat all my focus was on sailing and keeping safe, keeping cool and hydrated, getting through my watch and into bed. 

Off the boat there seems to be a necessity to indulge oneself. Once you take away the need to 'survive' what are we left with other than self satisfaction. The need to fill the day with gratifying events, which can be food, drink, friends almost anything.

If the day is not full with these events life seems wasteful. And  if we take  Maslow's pyramid are we in actualisation and if so are we bored now the fight is over?  Having risen up the pyramid to a state where we don't need to worry  about survival what is left? 

This, of course, could just be the effect of retirement! Is life only being concerned about no longer having a purpose in life; the kids are gone, no job, no 'worries', nothing to strive for, Hmmm.... !!!

Or could it be because I am sitting in High Wycome Hospital Minor Injuries Unit with my mother waiting to see a doctor. We have been here for 2.30 hours, we did see a nurse 1.30 hours ago and she said we need to see the doctor, which is very reassuring!!  

Is life slipping by while I wait for mother to see a doctor? 

Arrival New York

We arrived in to New York on the morning of 3rd June after an amazing adventure. I have to say goodbye to my crew who are going home and crew who are continuing to St Katherine's Dock, London. Many mixed emotions. Fair winds and a fast crossing.

Gareth's Nose!

01 Jjune 2014

02.00, iI have been woken by the sound of shouting and no engine! Gareth is in the galley with a very bloodied, broken nose and  Jonathan with a bleeding head.

The steering broke on the helm and they were in the lazerrette fixing it when the steering rod swung round and got Gareth. We are under way again now. Latest update we are due into New York on the 4th!

Yesterday we motored all day at under 5knts., the frustration really telling on some crew, I was mother watch which was ok. The heat is less intense around 30+ in the galley, a big improvement to 40+.

I was up for my watch at02.00 and off watch at 19.00. I do not do my watch tonight, which would be now, as 'mother' always gets a night in bed. I am quite thankful i missed all the drama.

I have taken up residence in the 'mate's' bunk, nothing is comfortable tonight but I think this is better than most. My 4th change s since  Jamaica. 

On the whole getting on alright, feeling more comfortable with the constant movement of the boat, the personalties and the ebb and flow of life on board. I think there is a gap with the whole 'forming and mourning' process of group dynamics and we are stuck  in the storming phase much too long.

10.15 and all has changed! A new watch routine is the order; 4hrs standby, 4 hers, watch , 8hrs off. So here I am in the galley sitting on standby, watch 1 have just come down and are off to bed, watch 2 on deck, watch 3 (me) on standby watch 4 in bed.

It appears what happened last night was, the chain came off the steering and for an hour we had no steering, Gareth went into the lazerrette to sort it and got whacked in the face by a 'steering pole'.  

10.30 Gareth has cleaned his face a bit, he has a black eye now but not looking too bad with the dried blood gone!

The long and short of this story is, no-one can work out when we will arrive in New York, we are sailing because we don't have enough fuel, which is better because it is faster. A few crew have flights on the 3rd, which they might miss! The stress is telling!

I will have very little time in New York, probably only 1 day, which is a shame. Still I am looking forward to being home.

Life in a Wind Hole

An Ode to Qingdao

An Ode To Qingdao

The Owl and Pussy Cat

By Edward Lear

Adapted for The Ellen McArthur Cancer Trust

By Gail Nathan

The Owl and the Pussy Cat went to sea,

In a red 'n gold Clipper boat,

With their friend Bernie who was from Killernie,

They all hoped to stay afloat!

The owl looked up to the sky above,

And prayed and chanted and prayed,

O lovely sea gods, O sea gods please tell, 

Where's the guiding  Mermaid ,  Mermaid 

Where's the guiding Mermaid?

Pussy said to the owl "You silly old fowl",

No such creature does exist,

So sad to see, nigh on a year at sea 

And you've damn well gone 'round the twist',

They raced away for many a day,

Through the lands where the wind gods blew,

Around  wind hole to wind hole  they planned and they plotted

But alas it wasn't to be spotted

Around the world  at a pace, a pace,

Around the world at a pace.

They fought to the last, oh what a blast,

Into New York they did race, they did race,

Beaten into the land of the free, 

In front of the Statue of Liberty, Liberty,

But Owl and Pussy were too cunning a crew,

And Bernie from Killernie too,

As they sail away to Derry Londonderry,  

A new plan they have to race,to race 

A new plan they have to race.