Windswept, cold and tired, the first crew members look out from under their woollen blankets. The watch stare emptily, act like robots, and just long to shut their eyes. The porridge has just been sent round, but a lot of people still have heaving stomachs after the rigours of the night.
The waves from the Atlantic, the swell, and the contrary wind on the Celtic Sea were a hard challenge for the ship and crew over the last 24 hours. Over half of the crew has been down with seasickness or upset stomachs, leaving the ship’s sections (foreship, midship, aftship) with just five or six able-bodied crew in each. The seasick and white faced have been packed in rows on the starboard side under waterproof tarpaulin, and with help from those who can still stand the tired bodies take turns in jumping up to hang over the side of the ship.
On the portside, the pumps were manned all night, and the few who are well kept to their posts without rest or sleep and bailed out more than 20 tons of water that had found its way in through the boarded oar holes. At regular intervals, big waves came in over the side, giving both the sleeping and the working a cold and wet surprise – some before they had got their wetsuits completely closed. Four members of the crew had to be moved to the support vessel, Cable One, during the night because of seasickness and freezing cold. The foreship’s lookout had particularly tough conditions. Spray came down over their heads as the ship crashed down on the unpredictable waves.
The wind has now dropped and the sea is calm. Backs are sore after several hours of running before the wind, clothing is clammy and wet, stomachs are hungry for real food, and bodies are dehydrated. Some sleep standing up. We go in to harbour in Torquay to let the crew rest. The last reserves of energy have almost been used up, and with more than 100 nautical miles to Portsmouth, we need to charge up the batteries again. But the crew has done impressive work and shown great endurance, strength of will, consideration and care despite the tiredness.
See the Skipper’s latest briefing from 8/7 22.50 under moving pictures