JV Jumble–Fashion Police Issue Tickets: Geronimo is back to cruising at 20-plus knots, but is still about a day behind Cheyenne’s Southern Ocean pace (though 1275 miles ahead of Orange 2002). Cheyenne has finally busted out of light air jail and is clawing north toward the Trade Winds, and still has a 941 mile lead on Orange. The warming weather has got the crew stripping down from full foul weather cover-up to more individualistic tropical wear. Navigator Adrienne Cahalan is appalled and calls the worst offenders out. Irishman Damian Foxall is top fashion criminal:

“Picture the scene, we are amongst squalls, towering big black thunderstorm clouds full of rain and wind which are associated with the low pressure system to our west. Even though we are in the tropics there is not a ray of the yellow stuff to be seen. The watch on deck calls over the VHF for the standby watch to come and reef the main and change to the storm jib as we start to see upwards of 30kts on the dial. Well you can imagine our surprise when Damian emerges from the hatch in silk paisley boxer shorts and knee high Gill sea boots. That awesome combination together with a tight fitting lycra top and sou’wester hat made me wonder whether he was not about to give us a tuneful rendition of ‘YMCA’ rather than run the bow for a sail change.”

Nick Leggatt runs a close second:

“Yesterday in another sail change and just after being freshly washed, Nick strolled up on deck in a collared shirt, neat ‘ironed’ pleated shorts and docksiders. He looked like he was either heading straight on to the golf course or out for a day race from Cape Town Yacht Club. Very peculiar. When questioned about how he achieved that look after the clothes he was now wearing had been squashed in a bag for almost 50 days he commented: “Its a miracle: even though there has been no laying of hands”. Well a wave later came and finished him off but he continues to wear the same gear sopping wet and will do so for the next week. This is the same person who took off his foul weather gear on Day 9 at the equator and still had his jeans on from when we left the dock.”

At least crew morale is high….



Fashionista Foxall: “Oh man, wait ’til they see what I’ve got on underneath all this gear…Back home in Ireland I’d be arrested for indecency.”

(Photo: Nick Leggatt)