Blog week ending 21st November
Nightsong
Fri 20 Nov 2009 16:57
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Dear Blog
Well we have passed all the safety checks, Tony B's
head is OK, we have gone for a test sail, done a man overboard and fire drill,
entertained Tony R's wife Mandy and Tenerife friends (and longterm
residents) Anthony, Lorna and Chris and are all ready to leave Sunday
morning. Crew of Nightsong photographed by them this afternoon
 It has been hard work and we haven't stopped -
disproving the thought that a week was too long to prepare for this voyage. The
worst problem has been the Iridium satellite phone, which has never worked
properly but which turned out to be a faulty wire between the computer and the
converter box (found by the great guys from Mailasail). Even today problems
still persisted with the bowthruster not working which with help from Northshore
we found out to be the cockpit switch - Tony B has done a great temporary repair
so that I don't make a fool of myself coming into Saint Lucia!! Otherwise
we don't need the bowthruster for 3 weeks!!
Forecast is for 15-20knot easterlies on Sunday
increasing on Monday so we should have a good start. I'll try to post a blof
with photos of the start before we leave GPRS range - and only have expensive
iridium satellite.
The partying has been fun with a colourful opening
ceremony on Sunday - some of the 39 countries flags show in this
photo
 We also had a fancy dress party on Wednesday
with us appearing as Tintin, Capt Haddock and the Thompsons see photo
below. Well done John in thinking of this and making the great dog
Snowy!
 Best bloke award was won by John our Aussie friend
from Lanzarote who appeared as Moses - pictured here with his wife Helen and 2
of the 3 children who are going on to OZ after St Lucia
 Final thoughts about the Canaries of which we
visited all 9 of the inhabited islands.
Surprising lack of wild life - the only day we
really saw a lot was the day coming back from La Palma with the Wicksteads and
Chadds. Altho' we did see turtles with Sarah and Tony off the W coast of
Fuerteventura. No flying fish have come on board yet - but we did have 2
squids on the passage from Lagos to Porto Santo
 Also surprising lack of fishing boats or pleasure
boats - that I have already commented on. Perhaps due to the fact that the
original inhabitants of these islands were exiles from the outposts of the Roman
Empire, all miles from the sea (rather like us Brits sending convicts to
Australia) - and the seafaring traditions of the Spanish never overcame this
fear of the sea. Very strange!!
AJB
20/11/09
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