Now we have been told to go to High ground..Tsunami warning??
Sunday, February 28, 2010
That Sinking Feeling?
about 30 minutes ago, without a goodbye, headed for an early flight.
My good friend Alex Edwards saved the day again last night..His whole
family, Bob & Margret ( with the Nordhavn 46) sister Fi and Alex's Partner
Mel have been our support crew family for the entire three weeks, supplying
boats and last minute logistics. On top of that,Alex delivered 500 pictures
on a disc..all good stuff,like the shot above, taken on the Sunday
starvation weekend when the crew were pushed to breaking?
Today will be very busy. Stu Flies out and I pack the Van, Drop the trailer
off, then drive to Melbourne after trying to clean the cabin?
Some days ago we met Jack Scott who had sailed on the 1983 Bligh
re-enactment voyage as a young camera man. We took Jack out on Pittwater for
the day on TBB and it was great to hear his first hand accounts of the
experience. We watched the film of that voyage and read one of the Magazine
articles on the day of the Press launch. Next morning Pete was not the same.
He looked a little quiet and disinterested? I was confused and at 1400 that
afternoon(Friday), when there was a lot of work going on, he went for a long
lunch, not returning till that night. The boat was already packed and
everything sorted for the next day to load into the container. This was not
Pete. He is the strongest worker when others are reading books or being
distracted! He was not speaking, but something was up. I though he was upset
with me or the crew about something?, but he did not want to talk about
anything. I asked him that night...maybe another time? We went for our last
dinner together..He stayed home.
Yesterday we loaded the boat , Mike and Dave left. When Stu , Pete and I
returned to the Cabin, Pete went out again not wanting to be around.
Something was up? Stu and I went out for dinner alone. Pete was in bed when
we got back. He was off in the morning and still did not want to talk. I had
to ask what was on his mind. Mike and Dave were also worried, as all had
been fine up to the end and we all thought we had done something wrong?
When Pete said he was worried about Talisker Bounty Boat being able to cope
in the inevitable storms that we will face, I was both relieved in one way,
but very surprised in another. At least it was not a crew conflict thing. It
was the inevitable voices inside us all when we have to face a serious
challenge. I have been through it, as has Mike and no boubt Dave too. Your
gut feeling is something that you have to listen to, as it is a survival
mechanism that drives your emotions and then your body and mind.
Pete read the magazine article of the 1983 voyage that Jack sailed on and
now feels that TBB may not be able to survive such conditions. He has been
out in big seas and wonders how we would cope and if we could. This is going
to be a very personal journey now for Pete. He must come to terms with what
is now happening to him and the expedition. I really want him on Talisker
Bounty Boat as he is a ROCK!..he has all the qualities of an excellent
expeditioner and a truly nice guy. He is not scared. He is making a value
judgement in his own mind and coming up with his risk assessment, so that he
can make a decision that will effect him for the rest of his life. I know
what it is like. I have had to do that many times myself. That is the
essence of what adventuring is all about. It is living at your peak.
This voyage has an unknown outcome. We are doing everything to minimise
risk. Bligh had no option, but we do. We could all stay home. I know this
boat and the crew are now good to go, but it is a very individual decision
when you are at the sharp end.
I had just one major objective over the past three weeks of training. To
shake out and prepare the boat and the crew.I have done that. When we get to
Tonga there is no turning back.
It has also been three week of real fun with a bunch of great guys. I have
lost count of the number of times I was gagging for air from laughing so
much. The catering has been as you would expect with five blokes in a cabin
but I know it will be great on TBB as I have volunteered to do all the
cooking after April 28th. And wash all the dishes!
I was sorry to miss Pete this morning. I told him to make lots of noise when
he got up so I could say good bye. He has a lot on his mind. I truly want to
sail with him on TBB, but I just want him to make the right decision. Only
he will know what that is.
May not get to Blog now till Tuesday,as I am on the road and then on a
ship..I will try. I know we have picked up heaps of new TBB followers over
the past few weeks so tell your friends about it. This is going to be an
interesting ride for us all....Don
Saturday, February 27, 2010
TBB in a BOX!
of tyres under it,then drive the trailer out from under the boat..worked
OK..then we loaded all the gear we need in Tonga, strap the boat down, shut
the door and it was all done by 11.30...good bye Talisker Bounty Boat and
thanks to all the crew at Meridian Frieght...Hard to believe this stage is
over...this really is like the end of the beginning.
All I can think is that very shortly we are going to be sailing away from
Tofua headed for Timor before any of us realise!
Pains Wessex!! Firepower
Good to know we have the best in the world. We are using a McMurdo 406, GPS
EPIRB for the TBB with another in the life raft and will shortly be
receiving the neatest Personal Locating Beacons you can imagine...they are
tiny, full function 406 gps PLB's that we will have on us virtually all the
time..wait till you see them!
Goodbye Sydney Lakeside Holiday Park!
with the best surroundings..a little piece of heaven in the suburbs! And
they have looked after us like you would not believe. I was really worried
we were pushing the limits with five BLOKES! In the cabin let alone doing
all the work on the bout kept in the gardens out front..but not a word just
friendly faces and all the other campers were interested. But it really has
felt like home here so THANKS!!! To everyone here...this was a shot as
Talisker Bounty Boat left on the way to the container at 8.30 this morning.
Dave is Flying out to Hong Kong 3pm today and Mike has decided to go Party
in Hobart tonight so he is Flying down now too,before heading back to
London.Not sure if he told his mum yet?? And I am not doing that!!!
Stu , Pete and I are back in the Cabin for another night. I have to sort all
the gear returning to hobart, try to kleen my room and the cabin and then
tomorrow drop off the trailer at some friends ( till August?) before driving
to Melbourne for the ferry again across Bass Straight to Hobart..some big
days ahead.
Pete Flies out at 6am on Sunday and Stu at lunch time ...so all the plans of
going to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney tonight all fell apart at
the last minute.
Stu is now sorting footage onto Hard drives and Pete is doing his
washing...the sun is shining, the place is very quiet and I wonder if we
forgot anything????
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