A Whale and Unseasonal North Atlantic Weather

Where is the wind? As skipper Neil points out this is the weirdest spells he has encountered. However the FCS crew are undaunted and making the most of their voyage with the prospect of full on sailing around the corner.

Morning all

An exciting 24 hours on Challenger 2, a Whale has been spotted, bread has been made, the moon has been big over night, although covered by cloud it gave much light, it is getting bigger by the night with concerns building that any day now some of the crew may well start to howl… I will keep you posted.

Unfortunately we are still motoring but we did shake a reef out this morning only for the wind to drop again before hopefully building throughout the day with proper engine off sailing happening by midnight. We have now motored 857 nm using more fuel on the last tank 12.95 lph this is mainly due to a heavy swell with possibly some current against us.

The up side is that the sun is out, the sky is blue we are on deck with tee shirts on, in January at 67 deg North ! This is the most bizarre weather system I have ever seen for there to be no wind over half of the north Atlantic in January is quite something to behold.

Regards
Neil, Skipper, Challenger 2

Date :29 January 2018
Time : 12:00 GMT
Position : 46.11.89N 12.35.88W
Destination Falmouth
ETA 31 January

Day 18 Sunday January 2018

Whale spotted massive, enormous, gigantic, biggest ever Whale spotted 50 metres away on the surface……. Unfortunately dead but still a massive whale.
(jab et al)

I have searched the Arctic Ocean and Norwegian Sea/ Straits of Gibraltar and off Cap T / I have crossed the North Atlantic/ Caribbean to Bay of B. / I have never seen a whale.- / Until this afternoon! – / Alas it was dead.

Challenger 2 whale watching tours opened for business today, I am happy to report that on our first day of business we spotted a big whale very close, the excitement spread around the boat so quickly it even caused one of the off watch crew to come up on deck scantily dressed to take in the spectacle (trauma counselling has been offered to the crew that witnessed this).

This was however the £5.00 tour not the £60 one, it has to be said that unfortunately the whale was in fact dead and a bit smelly, well what do you expect for a fiver?

Moving swiftly on today’s other exciting news is that our latest weather file indicates that we may be sailing as early as Tuesday lunch time wey hey.

Bread has again been made in anticipation of soup and bread tomorrow lunchtime, food tonight smells amazing: Howard and Ian are wizards in the galley Jambalaya is on the menu.

As I write this the off watch (starboard) are gathering for the feast before heading up on deck for their 1900 – 2300 watch, most of them smelling nice as it is a shower day, just one more shower day to go before Falmouth.

Lots of talk about the return to Blighty, the debate over the type of traditional food we should have has been narrowed down to 1/ A Curry 2/ Fish and Chips.

I suspect we will have both just not at the same time, a warm beer seems to be a definite requirement with the chain locker the designated place.

We await news from our wayward crew member Alex (who is bringing her mum down to meet us in Weymouth) we believe she is still sliding down hills on bits of wood, If you are out there Alex and reading this … Hello from the crew, we have saved you sweetcorn

That’s about it for now I’m sure things will get exiting on Challenger 2 in the next couple of days so keep checking back for all the latest Atlantic gossip.

Neil

Iain Blair 0230 UTC Monday

It’s 0130 boat time, the 2300-0300 watch. ISQ, high pressure, flat sea, no wind. Motoring to Falmouth at 7-8 knots, 450 nm to go.

There is 100% cloud but the moon is shining through in a silvery diffused way so quite bright on deck. Passed a dead whale carcass in the afternoon, otherwise not much else to report. Everyone is cheerful and healthy.

Regards
IB

Ghostly Sightings.

Other news is that that there have been several ghost sightings on board Challenger 2 whilst the Starboard Watch takes its off-duty rest. Reports of the apparition state that it can be seen most clearly in the Starboard cabin and in the passage to the heads.

Adopting a flowing white sheet-like appearance, it seems to float quietly down the passage, minding its own business at odd times in the off-duty period. It strangely seems to answer to the hail “good evening Nigel”.

Howard

Hey Lesley,

After nearly 4 weeks together, on land, in bars and at sea. I have gotten to know the members of my watch well. I know who makes the best tea, I know how people wake up without too much trauma, I know who can float along the deck, and who rolls, I can tell by the their gait in the dark who is passing the mug of tea, and who will be the one to get the biscuit tin out first, who prefers to do the cooking, and who prefers to do the cleaning.

Who is the first one in the shower when we can have one and who is the last one out of their bunk.

The dance of the thousand Oilies is becoming more practised with boots and other items being handed from crew to crew, with elegant choreography.

Meal times, are becoming more elaborate and yet simpler, all the sauces we like are in one box that goes onto table, and people are passed their favourites almost telepathically, the cupboards are becoming organised around what pans we prefer and the number of plates that are required for each meal.

Favourite phrases are taking on meaning, in jokes are becoming more elaborate, subtle nods, winks and signals are conveying more and more meaning.

Each of our strengths and weaknesses have become known, taken account of, utilised and supported, we can tell when someone is tired, and when they need a break, or when they have had coffee and have energy and take it all into account non-judgementally when making decisions on who plays what role at what time when things need doing.

The whole crew are getting a rhythm that works for us, and yet this is all a fleeting thing that will no longer be required at the end of our voyage, and it would change completely and imperceptibly as the weather changes or the crew is changed, every crew has a personality that more than the sum of all it parts, and is forever growing and adapting.

In my normal work life I help teams perform better and more efficiently, and very few teams that I have worked with have achieved the harmony and synchronicity of this team in such a short space of time, maybe it is the simplicity of the mammoth task that we are undertaking that makes this the case, simple in the case of what are we doing, sailing a boat, mammoth in that we are crossing an ocean.

When you reach this level of teamwork then I think “Crew” is the right name for it, and I have been privileged to work and live with this Crew, for this short space of time in all our lives.

Budgie

Posted by: First Class Sailing