The Race: Any Port in a Storm. Learn to use 'like' - Episode 3

PHIL Day 7 - we're in the Cape Verde islands and,

no, we didn't sink! We have made it to port. There was a small hole in the tanks that store

our drinking water and someone is now fixing it. But I'm glad we stopped here - the islands

here are like another world– green, lush, warm and sunny – not like the concrete jungle

we left at home. Unfortunately, we can't stay here for long – we are in a race after all,

around the world. There's just time to take a 'selfie' to send back to my friends (click)

– oh and I must just log on and check my emails…

PHIL So there's an email from John who says…

he hopes our trip is going well… and to remind me, that as part of the challenge,

I have to bring back some rare, unusual souvenirs – and he wants a recording of some traditional

music. Hmmm, what could that be? PP

Phil, everything is fixed. I've filled up with drinking water. It didn't cost much and

the chap who fixed it gave me this CD – something for us to listen to on the yacht.

PHIL What is it?

PP I don't know. It's just a CD of the local

Morna music. PHIL

What does it sound like? PP

He said it's a bit like blues music. Have a listen.

PHIL That's brilliant Passepartout! What would

I do without you?!

PHIL Day 10 – and I'm out in the Atlantic Ocean - and what a big ocean it is when you look

at it from our small yacht, The Mermaid. It is miles and miles of blue and grey water

with nothing to see on the horizon. But we've got a good tail wind and we seem to be making

good progress. Passepartout is at the wheel, steering our yacht to our next destination

– St Helena. I'm helping out by making tea…

Cup of tea Passepartout?

PP More tea! OK then, it will help me concentrate. The sea is getting quite rough and I need

your help up here on deck… RADIO MESSAGE:

Attention all shipping. A deep depression is forming in the South Atlantic, moving north.

Severe gale force 11 winds are expected and heavy rain. Visibility will be poor.

PP Strong wind and heavy rain. That sounds nasty.

We're going to have to change direction. Get your waterproof clothes on – we're in for

a wet and bumpy ride…

PHIL The weather is already getting bad. The wind is very strong and the rain is hammering down

and stinging our faces. Not my favourite weather – I prefer the calm, warm, sunny type. But

we have no choice - we need to find shelter. Passepartout says we should go to some islands

at 0.3 degrees north, 6.6 degrees east. Where could that be? And will we make it before

the storm gets us? This was a dream trip – and suddenly it’s like a nightmare.

PP Phil what are you doing? Hold onto that rope.

Don't let go or we'll lose the sail.

PHIL OK. It's getting very dark. Do you know which way to go?

PP Yes – of course I do – we do have a satellite

navigation system. According to this, we're not too far from the coast – but I can't

see anything.

PHIL Look! I can see lights of Sao Tome. Is that a lighthouse? Is it a harbour?

PP Yes. I think it is… but I don't know how

we're going to land in these stormy seas. We're just going to hit the rocks.

PHIL Hey look! There's someone on the harbour wall

waving their arms. Let's get closer… Is it a mermaid?

PP A mermaid? She has legs you fool.

SOPHIA Over here. Quick! Throw me the rope.

PHIL Phew. What luck! We're on dry land, safe from

the storm and it’s all thanks to the help of a woman who lives on the island. She's

invited us into her house to dry off and warm up. But are we in the right place?

PHIL Thanks so much for helping us – you saved

our boat – and our lives.

SOPHIA My name is Sophia. I'm happy to have helped. Here you are – try some bobofrito and a

cup of hot chocolate.

PP Mmm, nice. They taste like banana.

SOPHIA That's what they are – bobofrito is banana fried in coconut oil. Do you like it?

PHIL Do I like it? It’s amazing… just… let..me

get some more… Mmmm…

SOPHIA So tell me, what are you doing here?

PP We're sailing round the world but we needed to shelter from the storm. We were heading

for St Helena… is that right, Phil?

PHIL What? Oh yes, that's right. Sorry, I was enjoying this delicious hot chocolate. It tastes great too.

SOPHIA It's made with our finest cacao beans. It's what Sao Tome and Principe is famous for.

PHIL Cacao beans! That's great because they are

one of the things I have to collect as part of my challenge. Can I take some with me?

SOPHIA Your challenge?

PP Yes, we're sailing around the world from London

back to London in 80 days. It's a stupid idea, isn't it?

SOPHIA Hmm, maybe not. Actually, you can have a bag

of these beans if you can do me a favour?

PHIL I'm sure we can help you.

Sophia has told me she was also sailing around the world when she stopped in Sao Tome for

a rest and ended up falling in love with a man who she then married. But her husband

has started being cruel to her and she wants to leave the island and go home. Because she's

got no money, she wants us to give her a lift back to Britain. The long way round! She is

an experienced sailor, so how can we refuse? There is only one problem – we'll need to

work out how she can escape without her husband noticing. This is exciting stuff!