We got up Sunday and I helped the skipper and mate who had now been joined by a third crew member Klara in organizing and cleaning the boat ready for the rest of the voyage crew to join that evening. Most of them stopped by during the day to drop off their bags, with the plan to be on board at 18.00 for a briefing and allocation of bunks. The advantage of being the only one doing both trips was that I had already chosen a bunk and taken up residence!
The Skipper Howie and Klara headed off for another large supermarket shop this time of fresh food, leaving Roman and I preparing the boat.
The rest of the crew arrived at 18:00 for the briefing. There was a total of twelve of us on this trip. The Skipper Howie and two mates Klara and Roman. The rest of the crew comprised of four Czechs, one Irish, one Canadian who lived in Scotland, two further Brits and me.
I was appointed watch leader and had Guy and Siobhan with me on my watch. Luckily, we were all easy going and got along well. With nine voyage crew it worked out well having three watches each with three people.
We had the same watch pattern as the leg from Greenland, three hours on watch six hours off. This created a rotating watch pattern, so you are not on watch at the same time every day. The watch finishing at noon responsible for lunch and the watch finishing at 6pm responsible for supper.
We headed ashore to a burger place near the yacht, a few people enjoyed drinking a last beer as they would not get another until we got to the Azores in two weeks’ time.