ORCV Melbourne to Vanuatu (M2V)

Bless her.

She organised the whole Humanitarian Aid Project attached to the M2V. Conscripted our Human Trevi Fountain, Sue Clinnick and also Holly Fletcher to help her and Rotary get the job done and fill the container. Finds time to write updates for us and send them via the very slow sailmail. Is still involved in our Master Seachef programme. Is sailing two-handed and sits in third place presently. Will be tired, sometimes cold and on her own a lot on watch when her other hand (George Shaw) has a sleep. I am, of course, talking about Robyn Brooke.

Robyn waves goodbye to the many well-wishers on the quay at Portsea. Pic © Teri Dodds.

We certainly are blessed to have her and here is today's update from the high seas, aboard The Secretary. "I'm pleased to report that the wind is warm(ish) and the water is warmer too. We've got 19.5 knots from the south east and course over ground is 030degrees, so we're reasonably hard on the breeze, about 57 degrees or so, apparent wind angle. Our speed over the ground is 8 knots. Yes, we've even had some water on the deck now. In fact, in the last 24 hours, we've had 0 to 25 knots of breeze, calm waters to lumpy seas, sunshine to rain, superb currents running with us to now going against us."

Roby continues, "Yes, finally we've hit some adverse currents. It's incredibly frustrating, as the boat continually tries to spin you south-east, when you really want to go north-east. You can cop it when you're still sailing in the right direction, after all we have had our fair share of favourable currents, but today the wind dropped to below 5 knots and the sea was merciless, it just spun us around like a top. Even with 10 knots of breeze DaSec, as she is known, was hard to keep on track, so that's some force down there. I hope Angus on Tevake is enjoying the Tidetech subscription he won - maybe that's why he's over there and not out here with us, the sly old fox!"

"The gastronomic delights continue aboard. This morning we had Canadian pancakes, you know, with banana and maple syrup and they were soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good. There's an old seaman's tale that says bananas are bad luck on a boat, but after spending so much time in the Caribbean, with a hand always swinging from the end of the boom, I'm a bit skeptical. Hope I don't have to eat my words! Lasagne with tabbouleh salad for lunch (thanks Caz). Hope we're working off all this food - it certainly feels like it, because this is a big boat for two people and we are working it - besides that, we are always hungry, so must need the fuel! I wonder how those boats with the Hungerbusters and EasiFoods are going. They are probably in more of a hurry to get there...."

Robyn is always at work onboard. Pics © Steb Fisher

"I 'unpickled' the water-maker last night (they have to sit in a saline or brackish solution so the membranes that do the work do not deteriorate) and have started making water to top up the tanks. It's a shame that we're on starboard tack (wind coming from over the right hand side of the vessel), as the shower drains to the middle of the boat and it's too much bother. We're actually heeled over quite a bit at the moment - the stove is at its max gimble and I'm writing with my foot braced against the galley sink. Sometimes it might sound like I'm on a bit of a cruise here, not a race, but I can assure you, it's not easy. It is exciting, however. Back to it", Robyn finished with.

Robyn will not be able to read this, but I thanked her in email earlier today, on behalf of all the people who have been reading her efforts.

To see where the fleet are located after the latest sked, please go HERE.

By John Curnow