For the past 24 hours I, and some other crew members who are not so seaworthy, have been doing our level best to stave off a little 'mal de mer'. To quote Sarah, the sea is 'getting a bit lumpy out here'.

Yesterday, we traversed the Channel down to the French side, waking up this morning with the silhouette of the Channel Island Guernsey in the distance, and 'welcome to France' messages on our mobile phones.

Sunday on the ship is, where possible, a day of rest. The normal working hours don't apply, and the crew can let their hair down on a Saturday night in the knowledge that there is no 7.30am wake up call and no 8.00am chores.

Today is Bent's birthday [Happy Birthday Bent!]. Sabine, the onboard boat mechanic, has made some delicious cheesecake to celebrate. Like last year, in 'down-time' it seems a lot of people have turned to knitting. Sabine's making a scarf, Sarah's planning a hat, Huw's started a jumper (hats are too easy, he says) and Kate informs me that she's knitting a camera bag - although I'm a bit too awake to believe her.

Meanwhile we've spent most of the day on the lookout, for both our flippered and fishing-netted friends, with limited luck.

The ship is very quiet with the lack of the normal working routine. Although I have to be honest - I've spent most of the day in my bunk with a book, watching the portholes opposite blink lethargically between sea and sky.

Willie, Campaigner

Hi Willie and Crew

Well I thought I would keep you updated with things on land and at least respond to your blogs, which I do read.

You should make the other crew members do a blog as well, (tell the assistant cook I said it will be good for her cv to do a blog!!!! Then duck).

Still laughing over the thought of Frank's French Dolphin - thought it was a Dauphine actually.

Snow arrived in sunny Hampshire today and there are empty spaces on the supermarket shelves. Yes panic buying, we love doing that in this country and also some chinless wonder has mixed up a batch of food colouring with a cancer causing dye and sold it to major food manufacturers so we have a product recall of over 350 brands. the largest single food recall ever. Beware of anything tasting of Worcester sauce.

Life continues as normal - gearing up for the Skillshare next Saturday. Let me know if you are in mobile range and we can do a live linkup with you during the Oceans workshop.

Enough rubbish for now - update you later. Thanks for what you are all doing.

Nick (Greenpeace Wessex)