the-ships-cat

2006-05-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

Well,
Thats it just about over now..I shall write more when time allows...hope you enjoyed reading it.
Thanks

2006-05-03T14:20:00.000-07:00

Day..God knows..
2000

Avast and bejasus me hearties...
Nearing Ireland we are, the engines are broke and we all want to get off to our homes and loved ones, soon enough I suspect..anyway, the job looks jinxed from the start..never mind, time will tell...Spain, here I come!!!
Another question for those who may be interested....

Rules of the road........"white over red"....means.??????????????
Now there is a seriously good reward for ANYONE(well nearly anyone!!) who gets this!!!...
Nite nite, more in the forenoon.....

2006-04-29T02:50:00.000-07:00

1049

Well, all pretty much the same as it was, bloody boring now...just us, a bunch of tugs and the sea.......can't write anymore about whats to eat and stuff like that so I'll have to think of something else...we are now not too far from Kinsale head, once there we have got to go to 7 heads...now theres a name to conjure with!!
Once there we have to start to run anchors, a load of them..ten I think, this takes quite a while, then, the upman begins..usually a load of 'Servicce hands' followed by oncoming rig crew, these change out with the crew that has come down from Invergordon..of which I am one.
Right, bacon roll time..

2006-04-28T12:54:00.000-07:00

2052

Evening.....

Ok, a question....where on an old vessel would you expect to see 'the main course'....a major prize for whoever gets this!!
Thats it...nite all...

2006-04-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

1619....

"Water ,water everywhere and all the boards did shrink,
Water, water everywher nor any drop to drink"

This passage is taking its toll...we have run out of juice for the dispensing machine!! First to go was the orange the other day, and now finally the lemon has gone...this means that the machine is filled with WATER!!!!..Ye gods, we can't drink that!!!..To paraphrase some famous guy whose name I forget(had a large nose though)..water?, fish F**k in it..........so no way am I drinking that!
I do hope that scurvy doesn't set in.........
No land in any direction, I can understand how the mariners of centuries ago were struck with fear of entering into the unknown on their long sea voyages with nothing but wormy biscuits and rancid meat for vittles....especially if their juice dispenser had run out as well....
Well Its time I went to the pointed end now to get some more pictures.........one more thing though...a bird landed on the rig, I saw it briefly but it was seagull sized, awkward looking shape with a round head and a long downward curving beak(bill)....don't have a clue what it was...so anyone reading this may be able to help, please do.....
Moff....

2006-04-28T05:33:00.000-07:00

1333

Spring vegetable soup...fried Humber cod, or mince 'n tatties or something else resembling an accident was on the me and u for lunch today, also in attendance was a cold table in the 'fridge of cooked meats, salad and fruit...a variety of cheeses from around the world were sweating away undercover, illuminated by a large, hot halogen lamp and the area smelled like an Ay-rabs armpit!...Soup and fush(fish) were my preferred choice, rounded off with a shiny green apple and 5 ritz biscuits..........so that was lunch! I missed the bond shop and my Rhubarb rock or 'sports mixture, so that will have to wait until this evening...thought you may be interested was all!
Whats been going on since I was last on here?...We are drawing ever nearer to our destination although quite when we shall arrive I am not 100% sure yet...a distance to go I think!
Suns out, seas flat and all together not a bad day ....so far.

2006-04-28T01:12:00.000-07:00

The "New boy"..Maersk Venturer fast to the bows..along with Sea lynx)Centre) and Zeus (L)

Sunset over Ireland

2006-04-28T01:04:00.000-07:00

Day XIV...

0903

Not a late start this morning, just too busy to get on here earlier!!
This morning finds us with about 99 nms to go , so it'll all be over soon!
There are now THREE tugs made fast to the rig..the last one came last night, she's going to take us into the seven heads gas field location, where we are going to stay for the next 60 days or so.
Another beautiful day, no land in sight in any direction though..we saw Wales in the distance yesterday and Ireland..at the same time!...
Anyhoo..here are some pics for you to have a look at. More to follow,.....also I am loading up an insurance report for you to laugh at...Laugh damn you, Laugh!!!!

My tricky question yesterday about the points of the compas......the answer wa 'boxing the compass'......no correct answers were forthcoming, so no prizes for anyone...another question will follow soon.!

2006-04-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

2013...

Time to finish for the day, been getting stuff ready for our arrival, sometime late sunday night,early Monday morning!..It has been a truly beautiful day today outside, warm enough to wear just a T shirt....well not JUST a T shirt you understand!!!
The big anchor handling tug " Maersk Venturer" is due here at 2100 ish, so thats good for some overtime if anything is!
Just turned down a two week hitch in Denmark today, one of the agencies called me up and made me the offer...cant do it I am afraid.......also turned down a trip in the Gulf of Mexico on a barge.....money was good but the job was short, so again no go!!
Thats about it from me this evening, time to go below, shower and relax for the night. I shall write more tomorrow and hopefully I'll be able to get some more pictures onto the site.
A question , once again ...."what is the reciting of ALL the points of a compass known as?"
Ha!! Now that'll slow some of you down I wager!..The prize, should I decide to give one will be the same as the previous prize!
Bye for now.

2006-04-27T01:50:00.000-07:00

Day XIII......Unlucky for some!

0950

Thirteen day afloat now and still heading towards Seven heads....just passing the town of Wicklow on our port side, can just see the town in the far distance, it's a beautiful, clear day, not a cloud in the sky.
As we get closer to our destination, more starts to happen...a BIG tug , the Maersk Venturer is coming out tonight, due 2200 ish and she is our anchor 'layer' if you will...the anchors at our destination are already in place on the seabed, attached to these are cables with a buoy atop them floating on the seas surface. We pass out a big 75mm wire rope to the tug, she then takes it out to the buoy, connects it to the anchor cable and then tension is put onto the anchors something like 80 tonnes, this keep us in position....there are 10 anchors, all have what are known as 'piggy- backs'. A piggy-back is another anchor connected to the first anchor, this increases the 'grip' if you like of the anchor on the sea floor. his all takes ages and the winches onboard mean that few of us get any sleep due to the noise....still c'est la vie.
OK, remember the helicopter that came to see us last week, a photograph has been sent from Stornoway coastguard of the tow, here it is.

2006-04-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

1831

Well, here I am ..still!

After three...one , two..."In Dublin's fair city , where the girls are so pretty, I first cast my eyes on sweet Molly Malone"..etc.....yep, you've guessed it...Dublin is coming into view out of my porthole...looking forward to spending some time and easily earned loot there shortly I can tell you!
The day is still grey and insipid, a very watery sort of light and mist on the horizon..the glass is dropping like a stone so bad stuff on its way I reckon....
Been talking to the helicopter company today, looking forward to seeing what next week brings for getting me off here and back to the UK!
Bits and pieces to do when I am back but will have some quality time before I go back offshore....
In the meantime this is the last entry for today....and btw the answer to the question was......wait for it..'Cap'n Flint.......one lucky winner ..but sadly no prize yet!
Ok, as they say in Russia...Mossgo...or in Ethiopia...Abbyssinia...or Iceland...Rejykavik!(?)
More tomorrow, and a terrific foto if I can upload it.

2006-04-26T07:22:00.000-07:00

1521

Now I know how the ancient mariner must have felt......it's proving a long trip this one. My 3 week hitch is up tomorrow and I have the prospect of more time still to do! Hey, so what I am being paid fairly well for it!!
It is a little misty now, clouded over and not looking too good at all, the sea is calm but the foreccast isn't too good for the next day or two and the last thing I want are any delays!
No pictures yet but hope to have them on here later on today.
Another question for you .......
What was the name of Long John Silvers parrot in the tome, Treasure Island?
Teabreak again so I am outta here again.
More after 4.

2006-04-26T02:19:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 26th April
Day......Cant remember...XII I think!!

Any old how, I have been away as communications in all forms have been out, despite my best efforts...but they are back for the time being as long as we maintain this heading....so whats been happening I hear you all cry. Not a lot really.
We have voyaged past Tiree, skirted the Isle of Mull, awoke yesterday9?) morning to find and the north of the Republic in view on the starboard side..we followed the North channel south'ards and were, with the tide making 7.2 knots!!!! Almost went water skiing...not!
Last evening we passed the entrance tio whatever Lough Belfast is on and this morning, a beautiful day, the Isle of Man is on out port side and the mountains of Morn(e)..spelling help please are on t'other side. Weather...its crisp and clear today, blue skies and calm seas again..I think that we have been lucky so far with it all.
Finished painting the Radio room with the only 1" brush onboard...given up with about 70% of it done...can't be arsed any more..concentrating on other things now.
I canr remember whether I gave you the answer to the question the other day...anyway here it is......all of those things bring bad luck to a ship or vessel if mentioned(that's what the old fishermen reckoned)...Birds in any form are not allowed onboard hence the safety matches..."SWAN vestas"...picture of a Swan and they didnt like it.
Another thing that you find a lot of Seafarers did and still do is when they eat a boiled eggy-weg, they smash the shells ..another superstition.....in fact there is a rhyme that goes something like this.

"Never leave your eggshells unbroken in their cup
Think of us poor Sailors and always smash them up,
For Witches come and find them, and sail them out to sea,
And make a lot of misery for Mariners like me"

Right, no more time to sit here, coffee and a tab nab are calling...pictures soon of this Homeric voyage................getiing pi**sed of with teh journey now...looking for some 'home comforts'!

2006-04-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

terSunday 23rd April - St Georges Day

0707

Kicking off with the weather today, it was clear and bright when I came up to the radioroom very fresh wind from the west, then, out of knowhere across the 'Minch'(?) I could see a white wall of rain approaching at great speed and it seemed to be pushing a bitterly cold wind ahead of it and the sea had gone the colour of gunmetal....I followed its progress across the water until it was maybe 20 feet away, then dodged inside as it struck...it lasted no more than 2 minutes and then it was gone , all was calm again, and as I write, the sun is out and the sea has taken on its familiar blue/green hue.
We have got the Island of Tiree on our starboard side and as far as I can see there is nothing but "green" to our port.
I am still busy painting and trying to get the radioroom shipshape for our forthcoming contract with Island Oil and Gas.
Better go as we are executing a turn to port that may prove the downfall of our communications!

2006-04-22T05:13:00.000-07:00

Day VII

1313

What a change in the weather we have had whilst I have been below snoring and farting my way through the night...awoke early and felt the rig rolling slightly, bacon roll and paperwork in hand, I opened the watertight door onto the maindeck to find it raining and blowing a hooley..the wind is so strong it is beating the waves flat...got to be 35 - 45 knots at the moment!
That apart I am amazed that the communications are still working, the angle to the satellite must be almost critical now and still I can access the internet etc.....
Jockinese Grand National today so the Assistant Crane Op is running a sweep, £5 a ticket with all to the first three.....had a go and picked a horse that after today you will probably be able to buy from the dog food section of Tesco's!
Well thats all I have, we have left Skye in our wake, and are abeam some place I have never heard of...will find out more later on.
Sometimes, just rarely does the thought of going out for a beer cross my mind when I am offshore( It's totally dry out here) and right now is one of those times......it'll soon pass.
Ok, I'm off like a herd of turtles........more later on.

2006-04-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

The Shiant Islands 'Mike Uniform' and the tugs

1649

I haven't had much time to get onto the site today with one thing and another. We are now heading abour 225 degrees navigating our way through a narrow channel between Isle of Lewis , about 1 nm on our staroard and the Shiant isles not much further away on our port fwd quarter, soon, later on tonight we shall turn almost due south and maintain that heading more or less for the next 8 or so days. A bit of excitement came this afternoon in the shape of the Stornoway coastguard Sea King helicopter 'Mike Uniform', she came out ostensibly to give us the once over and to take some pictures, its good to know that these boys and girls are on the ball and are there should we need them. After a brief chat with the aircraft and watching her performing some posy hovering, she was gone..not before we took some photos of our own.
The weather today, clear blue skies, and clear blue sea, nature at its very best.
We have still got a long way..some 490 miles to go but if the rest of the passage is as nice as this then it'll be a pleasure.
Another spunky old seadog question for you: What do Certain types of safety matches, Rabbits, Pigs,Vicars,Women and the colour green have in common?...Find out shortly....

2006-04-21T00:02:00.000-07:00

0801

Above: Mainland at dawn
Above Right: Isle of Lewis

2006-04-20T23:08:00.000-07:00

0707

What a morning!!! I climbed onto the Radio room roof for a look around and on the starboard side , the Isle of Lewis, on the port, the mainland of Scotland with the seven sisters, a bunch of hills/mountains, all capped with snow, and ahead of us some other well known island whose name I have forgotten! I have travelled a fair bit in 20 years of working in this business and have NRVER seen a sight as beautiful as this....I cannot believe that the same God who created such sights as this, and such wonders as the engine can also conjure up such terrible things , war, famine, pestilence, my ex wife.........One day I'm gonna come back up this way by land ...only when its much warmer though and all the Scottish peole have been cleared away again!
So, thats it for this time of day, off for a walk to the pointed bit to see whats going on.
Bye for now.

2006-04-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

1835

The last posting of the day, the sun is shining brightly and the sea is as smooth as glass! It really is beautiful up here, rugged cliffs and the sun on the heather, looks great! Right thats enough of the Romantic crap...Still crawling south, into the Minges now, erm sorry Minches..five hundred and twenty two miles to go!!!

Zeus and Sea Lynx working hard.

2006-04-20T07:28:00.000-07:00

1531

Not a great deal has changed since I last came on here, the weather, once hobbible is now clear and the seas are calm and we are making about 2.5 to 2.6 knots, so still pretty slow , but hey I'm on pay and there's nothing spoiling.!....

2006-04-20T04:27:00.000-07:00

Left: More land. below My Radio room!

1245

The sun has come out!!! What a difference it makes to the view. Cape Wrath lighthouse is in sight now, this signals the end of the top bit of Jockland and means that we are beginning the final leg of our journey, still about another 9 days to go on tow. here are some more pictures I have just taken, I know that they are mostly of boats and capes , but lets face it, what do you expect to see on a rig tow..herds of wildebeest roaming the serengeti???..Anyway here we are..

2006-04-20T04:17:00.000-07:00

1230
Top left is a picture of Cape Wrath from the maindeck of the rig,Bottom left also and above is the Sea Lynx transferring the man who left the rig as a medical case on the day we sailed....turns out that it wasnt anything too nasty at all..just needed some alcohol in him!..The small 'boat' alsongside is the Invergordon lifeboat

2006-04-20T00:50:00.000-07:00

0843

..Found out where we are....just off Cape Wrath! What an inspiring place it is, very rugged and snow capped peaks...just like me...!
We are due yet again to make at turn at waypoint Nr 7, this will align us nicely for a run through the Minches, a narrow channel betweel the Scottish mainland and the Hebrides, so should be some good viewing on that leg, there is a narrow and fairly shallow 'sound' we must get thru to get to the Minches(what a name) and we draw sometning like 17 metres , I'm not sure how deep it is but we have got to go through on the flood tide apparently. Right I'm off outside to take some pictures of the cape etc.
Be back later on.

2006-04-19T23:05:00.000-07:00

Day VI

0645

This morning, I'm not sure where we are, hopefully the man at the pointed end will! There is some land on our starboard side forward, not sure whether its yet more of the Orkneys or the NW tip of the Jockinese mainland, I shall try to find out before I close this entry.
It looks as though we are making good time anyway, the tow appears to be going pretty much to plan. We now wont be anchoring off Stornoway top bunker fuel oil and pot, there was, it seems a misunderstanding within management( now thats unusual!!) over whats required and whats REALLY required...so it'll be best possible speed to Cork.
Work on the painting in the Radio room is progressing, only got just over 3/4 left to do!..Have you ever open the tin, put one brush stroke on and thought..sod it?!...well thats just what I've done, but have GOT to carry on.....just as well they havent asked me to put up any shelves, I could tell you a tale about those bloody things!
The weather outside is hobbible..., well not too good anyway, grey skies, very cold looking slate grey sea which, although calm would punish you if you fell into it...probably about 4 degrees at this time of the year , so you wouldn't last too long even in an immersion suit..the answer is..dont fall in I think!
One of the guys has been feeling seasick, he's wandering around the decks taking some fresh air which should help, although the only surefire remedy for mal de mer is to Stand under a tree.
Thats it for now, more later.......
Oh the deal with the fish to fishes is, if you have for example a catch of ONLY Cod, then theyre Fish, however if you have a catch of Cod and say, Whiting, then they become fishes...as simple as that. Another salty old seadog question once I've had my coffee and found out where we are....

2006-04-19T09:11:00.000-07:00

1715

I know that I have said this before, but I do believe that the KU band is going to go soon and so we wont have any comms except InMarsat and cell.....I am surprised that it has stayed 'in' for so long on this heading.
Ever onwards we go, still sou'westerly, still slowly, very slowly...2.2 knots slowly! How the old seafarers managed in the days of sail I dont know, but the old clippers, Cutty sark etc would outstrip us for pace...come to that a rowing boat out of Bridlington harbour would as well.
The Towmaster has just put 90 tonnes of pull on the Tugs, thats about as much as they can take, meaning that the tugs increase their speed slightly putting more strain on the ropes.....before the move the rig passes a wire rope, about 1000 metres by 75 mm out to the tug, she puts it onto her bollards and off we go, slowly increasing the strain, and we begin to get underway., there are two tugs, Zeus and Sea Lynx I think they are called and at the moment both are hooked up Forw'rd pulling us along, on some occassions, manouevring or in exceptionally bad tides a tug will be made fast to the side of the rig to help us steer...thats it in laymans terms anyway.
So, question number two for you land lubbers.....When are fish, fishes? Answers on the back of a ten pound note please.
Ok, summoned to a meeting so better go.....

2006-04-19T06:28:00.000-07:00

1428

I am painting the Radioroom at the moment, a shade of white, it's either that or battleship grey.
Its someting I am going to take my time doing and am not going to move anything, not a stick of furniture, just paint around it, it's for cosmetic purposes only.....and I'm doing it with a one inch brush, all of it....Its difficult managing something only an inch wide, I am used to handling someting more substantial.
Any old how, we are on a heading of 246 degrees and the 'old man of Hoy' a famous landmark hereabouts has been and gone and we are now skirting mainland Orkney, which is on our port side. Just found out that we may be anchoring somewhere off Stornoway in a few days so that the tugs can take on fuel and pot water, anchoring in something like 90 metres, thats about 48 fathoms ...deep which ever way you look at it.
Weather, the weather is just perfect, a calm sea with a long , lazy swell about 8-10 seconds, blue, blue sea and hardly a cloud in the sky...the odd seabird flitting around. Right, apropos my previous post, here's why a lot of Gannets die of starvation....they dive in and out of the sea to catch their food, and tey eat so much that the diving eventually causes some sort of cataract to form over their eyes, as a result they can't see to catch the fishes, and so they die. Evolution hasn't been on the ball with that problem I think.!
Right, back to the painting now, more later on, especially as the internet is holding up on this heading!

2006-04-18T23:27:00.000-07:00

Day V - 0735

Had a bit of a lie in today, then bacon roll and up to the Radio room. All phones and other comms are still in, but have been told that we shall be turning again in about 1 hour, currently through the square window on the Port side, thats the left for some of you, there is the island of Papa Westray, one of the Orkneys , the only one with a small airport I believe. It is a smashing day outside, bright blue spring sky, deep green sea and the sun shining on the islands, people pay for cruises like this!!..Although they get to drink copious amount of drink and theres shagging going on all over the place......(..nearly the same here..not!)
Ok more later on.

2006-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

1713

Fair Isle has dropped away on our Starboard side now as we positively zoom alomg at a gnats under 3 kts!!.. Its still fairly good weatherwise with a rolling sea and white horses breaking on them, and lots of sunshine, cold though at 5.2 deg C.

We are approaching waypoint No4, this involves us having to make another turn to Port to bring us slowly down the west side of Orkneys to begin the beat south. Our route will take us between the Hebrides and the mainland, down past Arran and Rhum, through the Irish sea, passing blackpool(good!) and into the celtic sea 36 miles off Kinsale head at a place called the 'seven heads ' gas field where we will be drilling for about 45 or so days..then off again, back around to the North sea for seven or 8 months, and then, once again back into the Celtic sea for more work!

Been throwing coins into the sea to the God of Porpoii(?)..he hasn't respnded yet though!

1800

Thats my lot, another day another dollar or two.......more tomorrow if we still have communications.

2006-04-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 18th April - Day IV

1400

Been a funny sort of day me hearties..still underway, but not making way!!, Fair isle hove into view on my starboard side and very nice it looked too, however due to the current and tides agin us, 5 hours later we are still abeam it, in fact probably a little further back than we were three hours ago. The Towmaster has received 10 lashes with the cat....he's recovered but the cats right off his milk!
The weather , those of you who have been following this will be pleased to know is best described as fresh...a westerly wind, seas of 3 metres or so and a rising barometer....looking good for a while anyway, unlike most of the scurvy ratbags on here, unshaven and covered in all manner of oils and grease. All that is except one.....a young fresh faced Roustabout, who as I speak is being 'readied' by the crew for his turn in the barrel.....speaking of young fresh faced youths, I overheard in the rigs communal shower yesterday the Captain said to the young Roustabout, "Dont worry lad, it's just the roll of the ship"..." F*** me Captain" replied the lad, "It feels like a roll of lino"........hohohoho.

Not a porpoise to be seen in any direction..........

Saw a Gannet earlier, diving for fish.........did you know that a lot of the die of starvation?..Want to know why?..No?, well I'll tell you later on anyway.

Still the paint and one inch brush hasn't materialised from the Crane Op...the deal was, he gets me that and I do something for him on the PC...No brushie brushie...no helpee helpee!
Ok well there may be more later on, once we have turned south, no more internet......

2006-04-18T03:54:00.000-07:00

Monday 17th April - Day III

0615

..And still we're heading North east, clawing our way at a speedy 2.2 knots!!! Now just started crossing the Pentland firth, heading up towards the East coast of the Orkneys, we have been unable to transit the Pentland firth as it's been designated as a 'site of special scientific interest' or something like that....I know its added something like 4 or 5 days onto our tow! I have managed to get the KU band internet and telephones working and as long as we head in roughly the same direction then we shall be ok.

All this bloody ocean and still no sodding porpoises...and no sodding laundry either..the boxer shorts will have to be worn back to front tomorrow if it doesnt turn up!

1500

The weather, still is absolute garbage!! How on earth people live all year round up here is beyond me...rain and ***Stop press**** Hailstorms!!!!, yep, mid April and its hailing like buggery.

1700

The laundry has re-appeared..II It seems that I had left in in someones cabin and the occupants each thought it was the others, so mystery solved ..the boxers are reprieved!!

1800

Thats it, another one bites the dust, its tea, cabin, movie ,book and sleep tonight..........

It's all turning out to be pretty unremarkable so far, which is good, especially as this rig is the sister to the ill-fated..'Alexander Kielland'......find it yourself!

2006-04-18T02:55:00.000-07:00

Sunday 16th April - Day II - 0600 ish

Awoke early, wandered thru to the laundry only to discover...my gear has gone! This means that I am now the proud owner of ONLY what I'm wearing, well plus a few extra pairs of shreddies....."Maybe a pixie has taken it" someone says......"well it'll have to be a short fat one then" I sez!
Internet and all forms of communications have gone down, nothing but the satellite phone working.
Still headpunching Northeasterly now tho' heading up towards the easterly tip on Mainland Jockland...the sea's rough..well you wouldnt want to be in a rowing boat put it that way!
Getting the occassional glimpse of land on our port side, unsure of exactly where it is though.

Still no Porpoises but lots of weird looking seabirds I thought until I realised that they were the vessels resident pigeons, they inhabit the inaccessible parts under the hull of the rig........wonder if we can get into trouble for importing them into Ireland.?

1600

Still no sign of my laundry despite putting up notices telling all and sundry that I have pubic lice, their isn't a sniff(?) of my shreddies etc yet! So the prospect of wearing more or less the same gear tomorrow seems pretty certain now.

Well, thats another day out of the way, they are running a book on how many hours will have elapsed between starting the move and the first anchor touching the seabed.......I have gone for 369 hours....time for bed...more tomorrow

2006-04-18T02:42:00.000-07:00

Saturday 15th April - 0900

We are underway, two tugs moving us at a walking pace from the Souters of the Cromarty firth , East nor'easterly out into the Moray firth. The weather is cold and pretty wet, shall not be sorry that we are leaving...there has been snow, gales and rain all in the space of an hour..bloody place.!
I've heard that there are porpoise and all sorts of other interesting sea creatures inhabiting the Moray firth, but am now fed up of looking for them, I'll have another go tomorrow.

One of the riding crew is 'unwell' so Invergordon lifeboat has come to take him off.....had a wander up for'rd to watch proceedings only to end up with a poly cup planted on my hard hat by one of the crew!!!..It's a pain in the arse when you've been cupped and are unaware of it.!

1800 - Same day

Passed Tarbet ness on our port side, still ploughing along at a brisk 3.0 knots...It looks as though we will be 'walking' to Ireland...Weather still crap...Going to finish for the night now..plan on painting my office sometime on this voyage!