Tuesday 24 February 2009

VOR: TELEFÓNICA BLUE LEG FIVE DAY 10 QFB: received 23.02.09 1025 GMT

by Bouwe Bekking (skipper)

The following came through a couple of hours ago on our navigation warning system:
"NORTH PACIFIC, NANPO SHOTO.DISCOLOURED WATER WITH SUBMARINE VOLCANIC ACTIVITIES OBSERVED. IN VICINITY OF 24-17.1N 141-29.0E"

Yes, indeed a volcanic ‘eruption’ very close where we crossed this position a couple of days ago. Good it didn't happen when we were there, as not sure how we would have reacted..........and rather don't want to know the consequences.

So what other ‘dangers’ are out here? Radioactivity is one of them, a big thanks to the countries who have been playing here with atomic bombs about 30-40 years ago. Some of the atolls are still highly radio active, and the Pacific pilot recommends a wide berth around these atolls. The Pacific pilot has provided us some nice reading material, and it is a shame that we are racing through this area. Wouldn't it have been nice to make several stops here and to explore some of the atolls? The pictures say it all, it is paradise.

Last but not least: we had small electrical fire in the media box!! Some quick action, by ripping all kind of connectors apart, prevented worse. Gabry (Gabriele Olivo/MCM) has been trying to fix it, but no luck yet. If he can't fix it, it means he can't edit video and pictures, so he is determined to get it going again.

Besides that he had a quiet day today. As it was sunny and no water over the deck it was drying out time. The only shots he could take where restricted to face shots, as we were we all running around half naked, all desperate trying to dry out underwear and our bodies. Body rashes have appeared, so the suda cream was heavily used and made downstairs smell like a hospital.

David Vera and Xabier Fernandez repaired the prop door properly, without having to drop the propeller outside. They found some stainless steels self tappers, which they stripped off from somewhere else on the boat. This will give us re-assurance when we sail fast through the southern ocean.

Jono (Jonathan Swain/RSA) replaced some small strops, which have shown some usage in this last week, so everything is fixed, we are all tikitiboo again!!

Volvo Ocean Race

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