the longest mile....

With just under 150 miles to go we are making the slowest progress of this 2000 mile passage. 

The finish is tantalizingly close yet we don't seem to be getting anywhere!  Minerva is still just north of our starboard beam, so at least we have some company to wallow around with out here. 

We are working hard at polishing off the stores, with tea time making it a personal  mission; with a particular bent for tea...  with over 2000 bags left he has a daunting task ahead. 

Pat and Dee have sailed over 4500 miles on Diana now; with Roger, Gary and John bringing up the core team of veteran crew with over 3500 miles.

Our newest crew members; Amanda, Vicki, Mark, Nick and Adrian round out our team of sailors who have suffered the trials and tribulations of late night equipment failure, blown kites and long watches.  Also they have persevered through the challenges and come out on top every time.

Just waiting for that little puff of wind to carry us the last few miles to our finish...

 

 

Hi to all those at home in sunny England!

Well we have only got about 2 more days at sea now and we are starting to taste the Rum punch.

 

Yesterday we almost caught two fish but they both got away at the last second but we're trying to catch some fish today, to supplement our canned food diet. This morning we had pancakes which was a lovely surprise as we were all expecting toast. 

 

The sparing match between Minerva and us continues with them half a mile  off our starboard beam it's been a 2000 mile match race between the two of us let’s just hope Steve has a trick up his sleeve to keep us in front for the last 321 miles (not long to go now) it would be a shame to lose 2nd place now but whatever happens we've had an amazing time. Thank-you ONDECK for giving us this adventure.

 

I think everyone will be trying to call home as soon as we make sight of land. so on that note speak to you all in couple of days.

love to all

the crew of the love train (Spirit of Diana)

 

492 to go!!!

Diana's day begins wth the usual chocoate sauce and orange breakfast accompanied by eggy bread and maple syrup - just how much more of this can we take!

But then there is a change as a happy birthday toast is made in coffee to Rebekah in York who is 18 today. Have a lovely day Bex!

Back to the sailing: Diana has every scrap of sail up and when we say scrap we mean scrap because if there is one thing we are not short of it's a supply of bit of old sail.

On we go.

To date only seen ships on whole crossing - one isolated cable layer and Shell tanker out of East Africa en route to Canada and one coconut - vast and free out here and definately a route to cover with discovery 55 in five years time if bones hold out.Text Messages received - no outgoing but telecoms should work by Weds morning - the track been good steered south of tropical squall and just hit first real doldrum bit and heat. We're averaging 6 kn now but have been up to 16 kn - still plenty of thought time with blue being power colour and shades of moriconium in the dawn sunrise - for the kindreds of this world - next message text weds as all fingers
fully working now!

Diana Blog Day 8

697 miles to go.

Dave has had an interestng morning - he's been 'hanging' around chaning the line for the spinnaker halyard at the top of the mast.

Unfortunately for any future Mrs Dave's there is no hope of ever havng any children!!

Doing really well. Had a great party yesterday lunchtime - giving toast to Neptune as we had passed our half way point. I even have video evidence of Steve dancing to Postman Pat - any takers?

Good night too as we did not have to do any sail changes.

Keep sending text messages as they are always greatly received.

Love to everyone at home -
Amanda Parker

Diana Blog Day 7 16/11/07 1340 UTC

Hi to all those at home in the cold it's 34 degrees down here and
glorious sunshine.

We had an interesting night last night with the spinnaker pole tripping itself so we dropped the kite and poled out a head sail and had a nice relaxing night's sail.

We also passed the halfway mark during the evening so today we are having a halfway party with everyone dressed up as scallywags.

Now we only have 870 miles to go and our adventure is starting to come to a close but we still have our sights on passing Juno even if it is just on the way to the bar in Barbados.

To those at home you are all missed but we'll be home soon.

from the scurvy crew of SOD

Diana Blog day 5

1240 UTC 1297 miles to go!!

Well here we are and already 5th day at sea. Mother watch providing us with really great food and morale is very high despite frustrating winds and a lack of the speed we would all prefer.

Skipper Steve, Berren and Teatime (Dave) keeping us on our toes with sail handling and every watch continues with the anticipation of the call "TRIIIIIM"

Hello to all our friends and family back home and to let you know that your messages are getting through and really appreciated (thanks babe for the footy results, I love you too - lots)

Stay tuned for the next thrilling installment of the epic voyage of Diana and her intrepid crew.

Gary B :-)

Diana blog day four

Stardate 13 November 2007 11:23 local time; 16 degrees 20 minutes north 034 degrees 30 minutes west, 1467 miles to go.

Steve woke us all up this morning with ice-cream cones and chocolate cake, it was delicious... and then I woke up, to find it dark and hot and a very light breeze! arrrghh!!

We are back to cruising along nicely again under the scorching sun and brilliant stars, feeling so very small pondering the intergalactic cosmos... the crew is keen on learning and have been giving it their all.

I did our rig check today and wish we had a proper crow's nest to just hang out up there and look across the great blue expanse. quite a spectacular sight (especially to see that we have horizoned minerva; as she was nowhere to be seen!)

Juno is our target for the moment as she is about 60 miles ahead. from all the crew of Diana, heeeelllllooooo out there!!! keep the text messages coming in and have the kettle on for my associates, (I'll have the cawfee and crawsawnts!).

Beren