Tuesday 26th June '12

They are still there.

The Kipper's first text of the morninng sent at 07:21 hrs included this...

Yes, another picture of fog but at least this time we can see more of the other yachts moored around them. 

'Same photo as yesterday, just now can't see the beacon!  Forecast indicates like this covering two thirds of Biscay.'

There was some mention of last nights blog entry and apparently, Steve is still talking to me although he did send a text to register a complaint that the picture didn't show his best side.  There is no pleasing some people.  Bobbie D and The Kipper are now busy making selections for Steve but I am told that he is a little on the fussy side and anyone over the age of 80 is being ruled out. 

11:30 hrs The Kipper wrote:

'We have been making selections for Steve but he's being fussy!  Not left yet, worse than yesterday, can't believe this weather, it's covering two thirds of Biscay.  Tel me it's June not November.  In town today stocking up on food, lunch out to cheer us up.'

I don't think The Scribe helped by telling him that we were lucky enough to have a lovely sunny and warm day with clear blue skies.  At 18:00 hrs The Scribe asked the following questions:
Where are you?
What's the weather like, is it still foggy?
Any fights yet?
Anyone bought a plane ticket home?
Or, she suggested, maybe you've got the Spanish dictionary out to practice saying beer please?

At 18:09 hrs, The Scribe received the following update:

'Been ashore all day shopping, as we returned mid afternoon it looked promising,  vis had improved to 1 to 2 miles and it was warm.  We were able to dry the boat etc., then the fog returned!!  Weather now looks pants for ages.  Had a swift drink in the bar, skippers of waiting boats were beig kept away from sharp implements.  Steve says that he's not fussy, jsut that he doesn't want the 80 year olds we are selecting for him.  Tres Cervezas pot favor, Spanish for 3 beers'.

By 21:16 hrs this evening, it was clear that the circumstances are beginning to get the better of The Kipper; he wrote:

'We are going to try to move down the coast in the morning to Benodet for a chage of scenery, well fog anyway.  All sittinng in the saloon watching a DVD, I've had a better day today, had a head cold for 3 days but it seems to have passed.  Think it's important to move on even if we can't do the crossing yet.'

The Scribe agreed and thought that was a good call but did request that they take care if the fog is still lurking out there in the shadows. 

21:20 hrs
'It's so thick here at the moment you can't see from one end of the boat to the other.  Don't worry we won't risk anything.  If it's as bad as this, we won't move.'

It seems that all this waiting around is truly taking it's toll and who can blame them for being down.  The Kipper and the crew-of-two want desperately to get going, to get across Biscay and get that behind them but they're stuck barely a few miles from home.  I truly feel for them because it is extremely frustrating sitting around waiting for the weather.  And all around there are yachties all sitting around just watching and waiting and hoping.  They are a perculiar breed sailors - they are never satisfied with the hand of weather they are dealt; it's either too windy or there isn't enough wind or it's foggy or the wind is in the wrong direction.  It is pretty rare to find the absolute perfect sailing conditions so when they do come along, boy oh boy, you enjoy them and make it last as long as possible.  I tried to cheer The Kipper up by sending my attempt at wise words.  I suggested he try to take the opportunity to rest up, to chill out and try to enjoy it, after all, he is still living the dream aboard his beautiful yacht so it can't be all bad.  The weather will break eventually and once they are underway, it will all be left on the last wave and they will be following blue skies and a trail of white fluffy clouds south.

As and when they do finally get underway, he'll also be in the lucky position of having at least 15 other boats to race against - God help the crew-of-two because you can bet your bottom dollar that if there is anyone in front of him, The Kipper is going to want to go faster!

I mentioned that it was probably a good thing I wasn't there with them because I would have been Little Miss Grumpy by now and would no doubt have been heard to say on more than one occasion, 'I'm giving up sailing'.  I would have gone into a cleaning frenzy and have Petra gleaming from stem to stern and back again.  In fact, I would have been so unbearable that the three of them would have probably bumped me off by now and be planning on the best way to dispose of the body.

So, there are some things to be thankful for, I will now return to my earlier vision of a few days ago of the three of them snuggled up together in the saloon, crowded around the small DVD screen, The Kipper will no doubt be snoring and Bobbie D will be secretly texting Julie while Steve pops to the heads.  I just hope they haven't got the comfort blankie out of the forepeak...if they have we might need to organise an emergency evac from the boat.