Day 5: Up to speed again

Last night was the first night where we had a full complement of crew on watch, with most having gotten over the seasickness. It was a blessing as we were very close on running out of Valoid, Stugeron and... Woollies chocolate brownies!

The watch is currently working on a three people on, three people off system. The nights are at least getting warmer (it’s all relative), but getting up for the 1am shift remains the pits. Especially when the watches before you have nabbed all the hot chocolate and you left drinking instant coffee mixed in not-quite-boiling-water.

The days have become far more pleasant. It’s still not Speedo weather, but enough to warrant wide-brimmed hats and high SPF sunscreen. While our comm’s are still giving us trouble, today we made our first batch of desalinated water. We are very excited as there is nothing worse than brushing your teeth with salt water.

In this race we have four new spinnakers, and we are looking for suggestions. Each of our spinnakers always had names. Our star performers in the last race were Big Bertha and Jemima, and Isabelle – none of which made the trip this time. Big Bertha and Jemima were put into retirement, whilst Isabelle had to be cut loose off the Transkei coast. Gunther, a gorgeous grey and blue kite designed by our boy Shane Elliott, is still in attendance.

But now we have a predicament. None of our new spinnakers have names. We have a turquoise code 0, a blue and white asymmetric kite, and two new white Investec-zebra-branded spinnakers (a big one and a small one). Ryan has suggested that the one of the Investec spinnakers be named Marty (after the character in the Madagascar movie), but this has been vetoed. The crew looks forward to hearing your suggestions. In keeping with how things have been done, ladies’ names would be preferred.