TEAM SA LOGBOOK - 6th May - Ascension to Fernando Island

6th May 2009 - Shane Barnes

4th sail leg from Ascension to Fernando Island and Natal, Brazil

Our current course is 265, speed 3,7, the sails are out and no engine. The wind 3 ENE and the temp is 27. The nearest coast is Ascension.

It was announced this morning at colors that we have approximately 930nm left to our next port, which I hope will be the island Fernando. I had galley after colors and at 9am it was class time until 10am. By then it was as hot as hell. After lunch we all mustered at midships because something special was going to happen. The captain said that as we are sailing so slow he will give us time to swim in the middle of the Atlantic but in a totally different way. Each person will get a chance to sit in one of the bosun's chair, which is tied to the course clew lines, and will be hauled in the air and eased of the railings and eased into the ocean. That was pretty awesome, the water was amazing and knowing that you practically swam in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean is an amazing achievement if I may say so myself!!! Everyone enjoyed it but then it was time for sail maneuvers, dousing all the square sails and sheeting in the main because we are going on motor. We only had an hour of class and then dinner and our usual routine of night watches.

And oh yes I nearly forgot, also at colors we threw Brandon with buckets of water because it was his 17th birthday!