Well, we are safely in Neptune's Marina in Ipswich. Firstly a huge thank you to everyone who came and waved us off at 10am on Monday as we started our journey, it was a cold and windy day so not very pleasant for onlookers and not particularly nice for us.
On board we had Jo Lidstone and Jo Lidstone, Julia Lidstone and Josh Lidstone, all J Lidstones! To say it was not a pleasant voyage would be an understatement, it was horrid! I won't go on at lengths about the huge green seas, the 28...30...32...35 knots of wind, the cold, the rain etc etc as I expect Josh's blog will cover the technicalities. The worst was when we came out of the London Array windfarm into the Black Deep (yes really, look it up on the chart if you don't believe me.)
It was grim and a little frightening at times. The boat was really rocking and rolling in huge seas and I could not hold on any longer, I had to steel myself and go below to the heads (the loo in other words for the landlubbers out there.) This may seem nothing to you, but let me enlighten you.
Firstly, start taking clothes off on deck to save time, so off comes the oilskin jacket and the sailing anorak, gloves, scarf and hat. Brace yourself at the top of the stairs and when there appears to be a lull hurry down below on the ladder backwards hanging on for dear life to the handles down the side. Grab the spindle by the galley (kitchen)and wait. Scan the floor of the saloon, which by this time is strewn with obstacles that have been thrown around despite being carefully stowed...books, wooden panels which have come off, the kettle, various bags and clothes...to work out a safe passage to the heads. With both arms over your head hold on tightly to the grab handles in the ceiling and swing yourself along the length of the saloon to the relative safety of the head entrance (this is worthy of a game on the Crystal Maze.) Once positioned outside of the door to the heads pull firmly and rush inside and shut the door. Position yourself in a wide stance wedged against the sink to steady yourself and quickly unzip and take off your salopettes (sailing dungarees) trousers and undergarments. Sit down on the loo...relief. However you will be attacked by the drawer which will come out and hit you in the side every time the boats rolls as you sit there. With luck the toilet roll is still on the holder and hasn't been thrown out of reach or worse still is in the loo. Now for the hardest and most difficult task. Stand up, steady yourself holding on with one hand and try to pull your clothes back on with one hand whilst being flung around. Once this is accomplished the return journey lays ahead. By this time you are starting to feel a bit sea sick having been below for quite some time. Wait for a lull and fling open the door and exit as quick as you can as if you have been in solitary confinement for 10 years and have just been released. Brace yourself outside of the loo door and again scan the floor of the saloon as everything will have changed on the floor by this time and other things may have been added such as CD's, bottles of water etc. Plan your route and lunge forward to the grab rail along the ceiling and progress hand over hand swinging like a monkey through the trees. Stop once again by the galley(kitchen) and hang on the wooden spindle to steady yourself and wait for a lull so that you can lunge for the stairs and hold on tight to the stair handles. Run up as fast as you can.
As you emerge into the cockpit someone will say "alright?" "Yes fine" I say and smile.
On board we had Jo Lidstone and Jo Lidstone, Julia Lidstone and Josh Lidstone, all J Lidstones! To say it was not a pleasant voyage would be an understatement, it was horrid! I won't go on at lengths about the huge green seas, the 28...30...32...35 knots of wind, the cold, the rain etc etc as I expect Josh's blog will cover the technicalities. The worst was when we came out of the London Array windfarm into the Black Deep (yes really, look it up on the chart if you don't believe me.)
It was grim and a little frightening at times. The boat was really rocking and rolling in huge seas and I could not hold on any longer, I had to steel myself and go below to the heads (the loo in other words for the landlubbers out there.) This may seem nothing to you, but let me enlighten you.
Firstly, start taking clothes off on deck to save time, so off comes the oilskin jacket and the sailing anorak, gloves, scarf and hat. Brace yourself at the top of the stairs and when there appears to be a lull hurry down below on the ladder backwards hanging on for dear life to the handles down the side. Grab the spindle by the galley (kitchen)and wait. Scan the floor of the saloon, which by this time is strewn with obstacles that have been thrown around despite being carefully stowed...books, wooden panels which have come off, the kettle, various bags and clothes...to work out a safe passage to the heads. With both arms over your head hold on tightly to the grab handles in the ceiling and swing yourself along the length of the saloon to the relative safety of the head entrance (this is worthy of a game on the Crystal Maze.) Once positioned outside of the door to the heads pull firmly and rush inside and shut the door. Position yourself in a wide stance wedged against the sink to steady yourself and quickly unzip and take off your salopettes (sailing dungarees) trousers and undergarments. Sit down on the loo...relief. However you will be attacked by the drawer which will come out and hit you in the side every time the boats rolls as you sit there. With luck the toilet roll is still on the holder and hasn't been thrown out of reach or worse still is in the loo. Now for the hardest and most difficult task. Stand up, steady yourself holding on with one hand and try to pull your clothes back on with one hand whilst being flung around. Once this is accomplished the return journey lays ahead. By this time you are starting to feel a bit sea sick having been below for quite some time. Wait for a lull and fling open the door and exit as quick as you can as if you have been in solitary confinement for 10 years and have just been released. Brace yourself outside of the loo door and again scan the floor of the saloon as everything will have changed on the floor by this time and other things may have been added such as CD's, bottles of water etc. Plan your route and lunge forward to the grab rail along the ceiling and progress hand over hand swinging like a monkey through the trees. Stop once again by the galley(kitchen) and hang on the wooden spindle to steady yourself and wait for a lull so that you can lunge for the stairs and hold on tight to the stair handles. Run up as fast as you can.
As you emerge into the cockpit someone will say "alright?" "Yes fine" I say and smile.
We had our feet up at home, cuppa in hand trying to figure out where you were on the AIS!
ReplyDelete