Oceanhippie.net - Tom's Blog

Andrew Bishop, head ARC honcho's microphone don't work. Sound engineer has gone to Castries. The last words we heard from him was "Turn it up". Somebody did, the feedback reached an ear-splitting crescendo. I mean loud (this is the Caribbean) and the blew the main power and out went all the lights.

So we all went out for more rum punch! Which caused trouble cos. I'd had the foresight to bring in a couple of spares.

Eventually power was restored. We got an honorable mention as Steve was a net controller.

Flute II's crew's a mate, he'd got bored of the prize giving and was outside when they won their class. Ooops.

The Crescendo of the prize giving was balloons falling from the ceiling. They were all wrapped up in a long tube of bin liners. The whole tube fell down intact. There was a then a frenzied banging as the 28 ARC kids tried to get the balloons out.

  Several awards went to people we knew. The "Spirit of the ARC" went to the couple on Hippopotamus, 2 nice Germans on their honeymoon. Hippopotamus is very hard for a German to say, which is why they chose the name - to irritate harbour masters customs officials etc. That award was well received as 2 days previously they'd, despite being a small boat, hosted a very large party which blocked pontoons all around them.

Flute II, Tulla, and another boat were all mentioned in relation to the boat load of Immigrants they ran into. Tulla was reportedly boarded by 2 of them and had to restrain them, the other yachts got chased by the boat. I've spoken to Neil on flute, they were 400Nm past the canaries and the boat had 48 people on board and no compass. That far into the Atlantic they were in serious trouble. With that many desperate people on board so were the yachts. After much wrangling they were picked up and taken to Gran Canaria. Apparently 2 of the immanent had died prior to the Yachts finding them. Many many people try to get from Africa to the Canaries, in dreadfully inadequate boats. Many die. It is tragic. I've no doubt given their location all of this lot would have died but for being found by the Yachts.

Mention was also made of John Thompson, who died on route to hospital in Barbados after an accident during the crossing. A trust has been set up in his memory to fund an Organ Replacement clinic in Barbados for the Caribbean, details of donation address will follow when I have it.

Caroline has managed to get a House, in Gros Islet. Or half of one, you know kitchen diner, bedroom, bathroom, fridge freezer, goat etc. So after we’d demolished an awesome amount of free beer. Listened to the steel band and congratulated people. We went to her house, petted the dog, met the goat, bought beer from the shop next door and put it in the fridge. Then on to the Jump up in Gros Islet.

I didn't dance I just looked drunk and nodded my head and drunk more beer of course. Hangover V bad this morning - wireless internet is worse....

Euugh...
Tom