FOR John Ball his dream of sailing around the world has come true after being picked to crew aboard a catamaran in the Blue Water Round-the-World Cruising Rally. John, 59, who lives in Tavistock with his wife, Brenda, is now part-way through a 22-month voyage which began last October.
Born in London he joined the RAF as a boy entrant at 15 and served 12 years in telecommunications. He left the RAF when he was 27 and entered Civvy Street.
After working a while as a sheet metal worker he joined the prison service. John trained as a PE officer, moving to Shepton Mallet where he stayed from 1980 to 1985 until promotion to Dartmoor Prison. He retired last June.
John and Brenda, who were married in 1966, have three children and three grandchildren. John is due back in Gibraltar at the end of his voyage in 2001.
He will keep Times readers in touch with his progress. Here is a report of his voyage so far.
WEST Devon-based John Ball is enjoying life on the high seas as he continues his voyage around the world aboard the 46ft catamaran 'Alf-a-Bet'.
Five days and 740 miles after leaving Gibraltar on the first leg of his journey John's arrival in Tenerife was met with much jubilation — although he managed to sleep through the noise of 25 late arrivals partying until 4am.
Out on the ocean he had to conquer thoughts of sea-sickness, homesickness and doubts about his ability to cope with such a marathon.
Heavy rolling seas were pushing the vessel along at a fair speed of 13 knots until the captain decided to 'reef down' the two headsails to about a quarter size. Even then the 'Alf-a-Bet' managed 9.5kts.
'I have seen my first dolphins — lots of them, their fins cutting the surface and disappearing at tremendous speed so effortlessly,' recalls John.
'As I hung over the bow my hand only two inches away from a back if the fin broke the surface I would have touched it. They are fantastic animals and it seems they enjoy the audience and love showing off. What a wonderful swimming display.'
John says the crew took on board a 'hitch-hiker' in the shape of a small sparrow-like bird that landed and spent the night inches from the helmsman's left foot.
'He seemed quite tame and unperturbed but unfortunately died the next morning in the skipper's hand.'
John says at sea the watch system is simple. At night it is two hours on and four hours off up to 6am when it changes for the day to three hours on and six off.
'One tends to feel constant 'sleep debt' where it is easy to nod off during the off-duty periods. I must say I really like the motion — rough or gentle when falling to sleep on the bunk.'
The first eight hours after leaving Tenerife were exhilarating — 35 knots of wind and the crew are surfing down large waves reaching 15-plus knots.
The plan was to sail south west towards the Cape Verde Islands to a point 25 degrees north, 25 degrees west. Then set a course directly for Antigua — being pushed along by the Trade Winds which normally blow constantly from the east.
However, in mid-Atlantic it was not plain sailing. While the Trade Winds aided Christopher Columbus, Drake and Raleigh to sail to 'The Americas' on this occasion adverse weather conditions made direct progress to Antigua impossible.
'We experienced high winds with heavy gusts, and confused seas coming at us from at least three different directions.
'Then there was rain so dense visibility was less than I experienced in the London fogs I remember as a youngster. It was so heavy it could have been only a blink away from being a complete sheet of water,' said John.
'Then there were the electric storms. Brilliant flashes of lightning illuminating massive mis-shapen lampshades of blue-white streaks which if you are close enough will make you tingle.'
John said so far 'Alf-a-Bet' — so called after the skipper's father and mother Alfred and Beatrice — had 'behaved impeccably'.
'We have had some repairs to effect in Antigua — but nothing to diminish my confidence in her. She feels safe.'
On-board life is far from the becalmed life of a landlubber. John says being 'at home' on the sea brings its problems.
'Imagine that your whole house is never still. No longer can you place anything on a smooth table or working surface. We have 'non-slip' maps which work very well. Occasionally, the 'extra' wave will hit hard enough to upset a beaker full of tea.
'Walking can resemble being drunk. Carrying three cups of tea in one hand without spilling a drop from the galley one step into the cockpit is a feat of dexterity.'
The target for the trip was 19 days but Mother Nature had not been very co-operative with the Trade Winds deserting the crew. Four days were added to the estimated arrival time.
The vessel experienced terrible squalls — one of 40 knots — and there were radio reports of one of the other yachts in the rally sustaining some structural damage.
The rest of the voyage was uneventful although the weather remained adverse until the last few hours when favourable winds took the 'Alf-a-Bet' into Jolly Harbour.
'At the custom shed we were greeted by friends and several drinks later found us berthed and ready to party because I was not going to miss out on a celebration after crossing the Atlantic Ocean!'
Christmas and the New Year were spent in Antigua. And now John heads off on the next leg of the journey — to Panama.