Crew Blog

Critical Meltdown

11 May 2008

CRITICAL MELTDOWN

Sweltering heat is making life onboard Durban 2010 and Beyond a challenge in more ways then one. The temperature during the day on deck touches at 40 degrees celsuis and at night never drops below 35 degrees celsuis. The crew goes to sleep in their bikini’s and board shorts. The heat makes it impossible to sleep down below when you are off watch during the day with the result that your day is 18 hours or longer. The business of sailing still takes priority and tasks like helming, woolling the spinnaker, cooking and cleaning on mother watch and sail changes leaves the crew dripping wet. As someone said - this is certainly the world’s most expensive sauna.

Patricia

At last count the Durban crew have spent 17 days at sea.  And with the prospect of another 3 to 4, their race from Santa Cruz to Panama has turned into something not quite anticipated. Seeking wind here, seeking wind there, seeking wind everywhere! With finish place of 10th position - this wasn’t the sleigh-ride they were expecting, nor the outcome the crew have become accustomed to.

Baking heat, light airs and slapping sails are a test for even the most ardent and experienced sailors.  Any yacht racer worth their salt knows anyone can sail in an abundance of wind; sailing in very little takes real skill and motivation.  And keeping a 68-foot boat moving through the water in 6 knots of breeze is something else again.

It was only on the rare occasion throughout those 6 days, when we seemed to be caught in our own private wind hole, that I saw Durban grind to a halt.  As a group of people thrown together with varying degrees of sailing experience, for many literally learning on the job, it amazed me to see how the Skipper and Crew performed under these difficult conditions and with what grace they accepted their final result.

I have now been onboard Durban for 4 weeks - a motley crew indeed.  A retired scout leader, a farmer, a mother and son, a doctor, recruitment consultant, nursery teacher, a fireman; 16 people ranging in age from 17 to 68.  Delve below the surface of any one of them and you discover their motivations for becoming a part of this race as individual and extraordinary as each of them.

As a media person along for the ride, I am only too aware of my privileged position to observe this melting pot of experience, personalities and nationalities involved in the Clipper Race; to see first hand Sir Robin’s vision of “Ordinary people doing extraordinary things”. On this point though I beg to differ Sir Robin - these are extraordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Vic.