Good clouds and bad clouds
Hamish Hooper blogs from CAMPER on the approach to the equator
Another day down, another day closer to the equator, but not yet. This is becoming like torture now… you just want to get it over with! But I can tell that the other guys are really enjoying the fact it stretches out for so long – so at least it keeps them happy.
Not that that was the only reason to be happy today.
The last 24-hour had just about everything; Thunder, lightening, downpours, hot sun, 25 knots, five knots. For the guys on board there wasn’t too much “off” in the “off watch”. Every cloud that came in sight or on the radar Will and Andy, Nico and Stu were profiling each of them, working them out if they were “good clouds” or “bad clouds”. Good clouds have wind, and lots of it. Bad clouds have no wind and can leave you sitting in a hole for as long as it takes.
Nico and Stu were pretty happy with how they managed to work their way through them all, tip toeing across the Doldrums, and the end of them is now in sight, still a few miles to go, but fingers crossed we can break out the other side looking good.
In the last report last night we had managed to take 25 odd miles out of the leaders who now are around 100 miles ahead, a few more reports like that will be nice! Alas this mornings latest report tells a more sobering tale, those 25 hard earned miles on the leaders evaporate just like that. This is tough sailing in the Doldrums; a fraction of hope is sucked away with a big cloud parked right on top of you.
I found it pretty hot down below today; cooking meals in the galley leaves you looking not to dissimilar to when you step out of a sauna – without the nice ‘woody’ smell.
Stu Bannatyne assures me that this is incredibly mild for the equatorial region, never before has it been so cool for him. This statement worried me a bit- if it is this hot now, I would hate to experience the normal hot.
The guys are starting to change clothes, underwear etc now, and rightly so- it is day 11. Getting close to time to bring out clean undies number 2 of 3 it seems. Old damp smelly gear is shed, put in a well-sealed plastic bag and forgotten about until it is handed over to some poor soul in Cape Town.
Burgers are still of high importance in conversation and today Daryl was confident enough in his burger to submit it for publication.
So here is ‘The Camper Calamity’
Toasted Hamburger bun topped with white sesame
Tomato relish
Prime 100% Angus beef patty
Smoked cheddar cheese
Bacon
Egg
Tomato
Avocado
Iceberg lettuce
Mayonnaise
