Sunday, September 30, 2007

Message From GARYJESSOP

Been at sea for 8 days ,nowgetting intothe rythm of life on board, if you fancy a small experience here are a couple of things one can do:
1) shower in salt water and do not wash off
2) every time you goto the toilet flush 25x or 50x depending andthrow any paper out of your window in a brown paper bag
3)sleep 4hours get up walkup 5steps and then down them
4) every hour write where you are (down the 5 stepsand back up)
5)sleep with 6 complete strangersinone room and then let six more come tothat roomas you leaveandlet some onesleep in your bed
6)in the sleeping room tiltte floor , turn off all lights and throw lotsof bags on the floor ...now try and find your bunk.
7)always talk in th third party..'gary is writing a blog...gary has the helm etcetc
8)where boots with shorts
9)dont wash with water,use a wet wipe
10) just as you are about to go to sleep , dont ..go for a quick 20 min run..something always happens as you are coming off watch
There are any more...which we will look into later.
And remember if youtry this at home make sureyou are smiling..the short sleep pattern seems toget easier after day 7.Mind you i was mother yesterday , made bread , did the cooking andthe cleaning..it was nice to have a day off !! justanother 7 days untill ican do that again.
one other rule use a shite qwert board to type on.
As for our position in the race...we gamble

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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Message From GARYJESSOP

THE BEGINING:
It was a nervous sunday morning as the Qingdao crew met for breaky.The air was filled with every emotion ever felt. We walked to the LadyQing for the start of the race, the support from friends and family and crew picking up the boat at a later leg put a lump in my throat.We slipperd into the Mersey ,warmed up and then off we went .we did a good job as it was ourfirst together. On the friday nite the skipper informed me that I was to be watch leaderfor this race ..so Slam is my Watch, and they all dida great job.. both watch's are working well. For a quick recount ... we sailed onto France in some harsh weather and then hit no wind what so ever, We then saw singapore clipper and with a great team performance took them in no wind..... we had become a team.
we entered la rochelle ate and drank like winners.. because we all are.

The start of la rochelle to Brazil ... all i can is that with watch chats the night before..we were awesome.. the heli cameraswere there , we clicked they clicked and off we went..the weather was fantastic.... until the first night..the wind picked up , a shackle on the halyhard broke and as the windtormented us we fought to mend ..unfortunately it meant we slipped in position... but heywe only have 3,900miles left.
I write thisoff of spain. remember the main website is tracking us.
www clipperroundtheworld.com

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Friday, September 14, 2007

Getting Close

 Friday the 14th and just a few days to go .
The past weeks have been time spent around the boat.I have pulled apart the winches and put back , help re rig , clean , mend and over all done a great job ... haha
After the C1 and C2 training and the visits to Ull (hull for those who did not understand) I did some courses on Sea survival,First Aid and Radio .. all of which I am glad to have done .The sea survival was a little dramatic with some pool action but no cocktails this time and life rafts being turned over and drills being done .First aid was handy after the having a large night before and the recovery position came in handy. And the radio course was like quoting the Nikkei Roll .

I then did C4 training and we entered the channel waved at the Frenchies once more and picked up the winds .it was with some new crew members and was a joy. We had a Pirate Steve .. just out of Dodge ball ..but a BBC version and he will be bringing some noodles and chili source for the trip he tells me, we had the King Logger Charlie and the Wise ladies of Kay and Linda.. All a joy .
The winds were nice with a F6  on day two ,I found myself on the wheel with Carey the massage lady on the main .. when all of a sudden the coast guard came over and wanted to do a rescue Drill. The Skipper told me to keep the boat straight and concentrate.. With the Helicopter over head .. they lowered a man down towards our boat .. I was so focused that I never saw him standing behind me .. Carey did a great job easing the main and we kept the boat dead straight .. after 5 mins the Helicopter came back and picked up there man .
The next day we had Photo shoot .. where the winds picked up to F8 sun out .. and I Found myself in the midst of the action,which was all by accident as I was making my way to the rail. I was at the mast pulling up all the sails , the Boat was well over powered for the camera .. and it was a tiring journey for an hour. 
I think the photos should be on the web site .  www.clipperroundtheworld.com and www.qingdaoclipper.com

At the end of the week we had a great dinner on the Boat which Andy cooked with lots of beer and music.

We then sailed to Liverpool with Stops in Falmouth and Holyhead .. a few beers and some great jokes were told .. even though no one new what Chris was talking about .. nor did he.
On the trip up we had Dolphins most the may jumping over the Bow ..and  a few Sharks ...What a joy nature is.

The Boat has all it food on board .. well done to Carlo .. the Sails are ready .. mind you our Yankee 1 ( a fore sail came with holes in it ) .I was fortunate to go on the sail repair course so i know how to mend it .. but more fortunate I had V with me who is a great seamstress .. so she mended it .. good girl.


I will try and update as we go from the boat ..   please don't forget about my charity .. justgiving.com/garyjessop     see if we can all help .



will try and make sense a little later

ciaoo for now
 

The Seas await

It is Friday Sep 14th .. not long to go now until the start of the race.
After  weeks of training ,re rigging ,learing loads and meeting the crew it will be time to start the adventure of a life time.
I m sure the romantic hings and the realsic lows will be huge.


Below are the links for you to follow th race , help me raise some cash for children that need help  and enjoy my adventure.

thankyou for those who have already helped the children 

www.clipperroundtheworld.com
www.qingdaoclipper.com


charity .. justgiving.com/garyjessop     very eady to do and takles one minute


garyj-qingdao.blogspot.com



garj