RTW, Leg 3: Gibraltar on the rock

Hello again! The 3rd mate here.

Hope this finds you all well.

First, I have a public apology to make on behalf of my captain/husband. (Yet again!) Lily and Sara. As you know I absolutely love babies and children .... but…. I certainly don’t expect the stork to make an arrival in July. So please, no pressure! Lil, you’ve lived with this all your life. Sara …. may I introduce you to John Strachan…. you’re future father-in-law!

It’s my turn to sum up the rest of the journey. We will also have a guest section for Ronnie, our 1st mate. Who actually needs a special award for being at sea, for 9 days, with The Strachans! A feat of endurance, patience and tolerance which should not go unmentioned.

It’s been an interesting week since John last wrote. Weather being quite benign. It’s been a bit like ground hog day. Watches, cleaning, cooking, reading, sleeping, emails (when comms allow) and general pottering about. Trying to get into a routine. But, as we know, the weather can be a fickle thing! Just when you feel you are in the groove and nothing much is going to happen …. Mother nature likes to catch you out. We saw the dark clouds on the horizon, and we were prepared. Suddenly, the wind picked up. The auto pilot was set on wind mode which keeps the boat at a constant angle to the wind regardless of wind shifts. We were right in the eye of the low and the boat suddenly turned completely to the opposite direction. The captain and the 1st mate were in their element. This is what sailing is all about, after all! The oil skins came out, harnesses were put on. Smiles as broad as anything, splashed across their faces. I chose this moment to pop below. I must have been quite tired because I nodded off for a while (Its quite tiring, this sailing malarky!) Any way, I woke a few hours later to find the sea as flat as a pancake and the captain and 1st mate were back in their shorts and t-shirts!

The next 24 hours were interesting! Not as bad as the North Sea but ….The wind starting picking up at midnight. I woke the captain at midnight when it was up to a Force 5, we put in a reef and tacked before I headed off to bed. The boat was making horrible noises as she dealt with the strain of the wind. My anxieties were building! Fitful sleep and then up and back on watch at 6am. By this time the wind had hit a Force 7 but was now sitting at Force 6. Harnesses on was essential. This is where you find out about a thing called ‘boat fitness!’

If, like me, and you basically struggle to keep upright and are constantly clinging on for dear life to any object, …your body suffers. Every bone and muscle that you use for support aches. It helps to be boat fit before you set off!

Anyway, the wind eventually died down. But, through lack of sleep and being scared … there came that inevitable moment. The wobbly bottom lip wobbled and then it was full on tears and snotters when the reality of the next 3 years was becoming more apparent. The captain (as always) took me aside and gave me a cuddle and was, as always, upbeat and encouraging. I started to feel a wee bit better.

The next worry was the Orcas. As mentioned by the captain before, a rogue pod of Orcas have been praying on many boats, off the Portuguese coast. Every dark shape, loud splash was bound to be one (in my mind!). But nothing… nada…zilch! Whilst I was delighted not to be sunk by these wonderful mammals, who would surely be paying us back for going to SeaWorld in the late 90’s. Not even a one or even the whiff of one! It was a bit like going to Italy as a teenager and being told I should watch out for the boys pinching bottoms. The crippling disappointment of my teenage self not even getting one pinch has haunted me all these years!

I digress…. Yesterday dawned to a rather spectacular arrival to an incredibly misty and fog bound Gibraltar. The sound of the fog horns from these invisible tankers in the straits was beautiful but eerie. It was as though we were watching an episode of a Scooby Doo adventure! The crew were relieved, elated, and extremely happy. The 3rd mate thought she had something in her eye and the bottom lip might have had a wee bit of a wobble!

So that’s the 2nd leg over. Back to Scotland for the wedding, seeing family and friends. It will particularly be a sad day for the captain and 3rd mate as we will be losing our 1st mate.

He has been a wonderful, positive asset to the boat. His knowledge of birds and wildlife have been welcome education to the crew, who now know that all birds are not seagulls or gannets! We will be very sad to see him go. We will be back to Gibraltar in a month and heading for the Grand Canarias. Then being joined by Dougie and Mark, (our crew from the Norway trip.)

The Atlantic awaits …….

Post Script:

The captain has just had to do a virtual inspection of his boat for the ARC. He passed with flying colours and was highly commended. His preparation was so good that he was put in the 1 percent of boats which pass first time, and don’t have to do it again. To say he’s chuffed to his Musto boots, is an understatement! I, on the other hand, am not surprised! He worked very hard at getting ship shape and ready. Very proud of him.