The "Limerick" Log

Whilst crossing the Atlantic in a small yacht, I found that writing Limericks was something that I could occupy my mind with. The following are some verses I wrote, often during the quiet night watch hours. Some who have more arts education than me have pointed out that they do not have perfect limerick scansion – but hopefully you can overlook that given the seasickness and the fact that I am a mere physicist.

More details and logs from our trip can be found at:
http://www.safesailing.co.uk/tracking/index.php
http://arc.worldcruising.com

Wednesday 29th November

Black Arrow is the name of our yacht
being steel, she can cope with a lot.
She'll hold firm in a gale;
There'll be no need to bale,
and we'll try for that last extra knot.

Our skipper is called Simon Smith;
for safe sailing, he has quite a gift.
His sense of childish fun
makes him ever so young.
When 'tis rough, he gives us a lift.

Gossia, the Bosun, from Poland,
is glad to be out of the Solent.
In her little black dress,
she can dress to impress.
We get weather from dad in the homeland.

Sandi has plans for her ketch,
to do the ARC the year after next.
When a warped hydrovane rudder
meant we needed another,
her hubby from England did fetch.

FC, the sea got him quick;
on the way down he was terribly sick.
But on stopping in Spain
he worked on weight gain
And found pills that did just the trick.

And Steve, he flew in last week
with three weeks off work as a treat.
He bought us steak in a tin,
nine cans he got in
But his baggage was not at all cheap!

We hope that we will all survive,
and remain a full crew of five.
Now we're pushing on time,
and stretching the rhyme
There'll be more before we arrive.

Friday 1st December

Last night, Roxi called out to the fleet:
"Any boats out there up for a meet?"
"We are!" we cried -
So they came alongside
and their crew took a valiant leap.

Their Swan was alone in the swell
whilst we all got on terribly well.
We circled their mast,
as the light faded fast.
They jumped back with a tale to tell.

Sunday 3rd December

On Friday, we caught our first fish,
not quite as big as we wished.
A quick fillet and fry,
from an expert like Si
and he made an excellent dish!

Then the wind blew up five, gusting six.
with some swell thrown into the mix.
There was a touch of relief,
when we put in a reef,
and knots, we made at least six.

Last night, the sea was quite rough;
waves as tall as two men, sure enough!
With the wind dead behind,
Black Arrow is kind,
but sleeping was a little bit tough.

So we've now been at sea a full week,
the austere ocean is vast, and so bleak.
Many miles from the land,
at least we get tanned!
Our world is but steel, canvas, and teak.

Monday 11th December

As we edge south it gets increasingly hot,
but the auld Mariners' rhyme this verse is not.
No albatross slaughter,
we've plenty of water.
Our story don't follow that plot!

For supper we had a fabulous meal:
Melon, then chips with potatoes and veal.
Dessert was from heaven,
with custard from Devon.
We really must stick to this 3 course ideal!

Friday 15th December

The thick night air, humid and heavy;
pregnant with storms to catch the unready.
A lightening strike
antennas will spike.
We dodged through all this, and held our course steady.

Saturday 16th December

The ominous clouds unleashed all their power;
The tension relieved with a heavy rain shower.
No spirits did dampen,
in the on duty tandem.
Wet though they got, neither looked dour.

Sunday 17th December

As we press on for the finishing line,
for this humble log, it's wrapping up time.
St. Lucia draws near,
with showers and beer.
So thanks for reading our limerick rhyme.