Last few days prior to level 4 Training.

I am now in the UK and alot has happened in the Clipper world since the crew announcement day on April 30. We understood there to be only one yacht from Australia. It was a combined entry from Geraldton in WA & Southport in Queensland.
We have now been informed that in there will be 2 Australian yacht entries, one sponsored by Geraldton in WA & the other yacht sponsored by the Gold Coast in Queensland.

I am on the Queensland yacht with skipper Richard Hewson & the same crew as previously reported. I'm sure not only will there be competitiveness between all other yachts but we will be putting in a special effort to win against the other Aussie yacht.
As a crew we are now working on strategies for comfort over the 11 months race with considerations being given to humidfiers, fans, rice cookers & other top secret equipment to help give us an edge over the other crews.
A crew fund has been organised with each crew member putting in 50 pound per leg, this is for incidentals that we will need and for that all important first shout at the bar when we are on the hard.
Communication is happening between all crew members and the loved ones left on the dock. Christine my wife has already organised flights and accommodation to see us off in Southampton and then other trips to South Africa, Geraldton & the Gold Coast. Via email she is starting to get to know some of the other crew partners and is looking forward to meeting as many as she can of my new "family".
Level 4 Training will commence in the Solent off Gosport/Southampton on 14/7/11. This is the first time that the fleet of ten yachts will race against each other day & night. I know that it will pull the teams together.
It is going to be great to get to know your team in real race conditions & hopefully set the standard for other yachts in the fleet.
We spend 5 days on the water with an extra 2 days in the classroom on radar & covering standing orders.
The week 20/7/11 to 27/7/11 is organised to cover a whole raft of subjects from victualling, medical updates, tuition on still & movie cameras to satellite communications. Some of the subjects are for skippers only and the others are for volunteers from each yacht so that you should have a least two people with extra knowledge on all facets of the yacht's equipment, safety, sail maintenance, engineering etc etc.
On the 28/7/11 the round the world crews & Leg 1 crew sail the yachts from Gosport to Southampton. This should take the day.
29/7/11 & 30/7/11 we are in Ocean Village Southampton attending to all those last minute things prior to our departure on the 31/7/11 to race around the world.
Next time I blog I will be able to tell you if everything has gone to schedule.
Bye for now Barry (BAMO)