Crew Blog

Life is full of contrasts

26 June 2008

Leg 7 has certainly produced some interesting and varied experiences: shiny seas with no wind from Jamaica, thick fog all the way from Manhattan through New York Harbour (at least it was spectacular at night on the way in!) to Halifax.  For the Democracy 250 race Sydney we set off in perfect sailing weather and finished in an Artic gale – surfing past the outer channel markers at over 15 knots surely exceeded some speed limit.  It certainly got colder very fast as we headed north, and tropical heat is now a distant memory – full kit for us now!  On the non sailing side the generosity of the welcome we received in Canada was extraordinary; as was the send off from Sydney, with a parade of local school kids bearing our national flags leading each team to its yacht.

Now we are over half way across the North Atlantic, having experienced a large range of weathers already.  Our nearest rivals overall are in sight but still slightly ahead, and what Joff (Bailey, Race Director) announced as ‘the battle of the Atlantic’ is turning into a long struggle of attrition rather than a quick and decisive campaign.  As several times before it will come down to the wire I think.  Life on board has provided highs and lows as always – yesterday’s big news being the refusal of the port heads (toilet) to accept any more abuse, and regurgitating several days worth….  Fortunately this was the day after the storm had spread metaphorical s**t everywhere, but the poor innocent crew member who had been pumping the system at the moment of failure of course had the task of dismantling and cleaning up the whole system.  (No names for a price Konrad!).

Ewan