Crew Blog
Gladiators…ready!
09 March 2008
My part A training skipper told us that we would have vivid dreams during our time at sea. This has certainly been the case with myself, especially last night. This epic consisted of me facing a dwarf combatant in a gladiatorial arena (I’ve no idea why he was a dwarf). He was wearing a blacksmith’s apron and a sparta fighting mask, plus he was armed with a dirk. It seemed so real that I was sure I could smell him but this was surely a used pair of my socks which had glued themselves to the wall next to my nose. I was just about to go in for the kill when one of my shipmates woke me to start my early morning watch. I must have looked like one of the flying fish that regularly land on the deck. Eyes as big as saucers and mouth agape. The dwarf geezer had disappeared and been replaced by a quizzical looking Scottish bloke who was probably wondering why I was grimacing like a beat up Ken Dodd. After a few seconds of adjustment it was back to reality and time to get into my damp oilies and claw my way onto deck.
Is there a big difference between my dream of fighting in the arena and sailing across this little ocean called the Pacific? Well not a lot really. It’s quite a lot of hard work and toil, sometimes relentless. You don’t get much sleep plus you can go from internal serene calm to mild panic in a small amount of time. It’s a good job there’s the skipper and some other experienced yachting types around to calm the concerns of beginners like myself.
Is it worth it? Do I sometimes wish I was in the arena instead ?
When I’m sitting on the beach in Hawaii I’ll have a better idea.
Steve H
1. Lindsey Barry, Sutton Coldfield 11 March 2008
In the lead again........ looks like there is a pattern forming here. Are you going to make it a St Patrick’s Day First?? Come on New York you can do it, same as before, you know what to do!!!! Stay safe and sail fast. Thinking of all of you on board and looking forward to next week.May the luck of the Irish sail with you.
Love Lindsey x
2. Jennifer Leech, London (...ish) 12 March 2008
Great blog Steve. Brings back memories of the ‘on watch, off watch’ dreams. Begs the question - when is Duggie going to jump on deck to utter ‘on my command unleash hell’ so that you guys can get past that pesky H&H;crew?! We are all routing for you back home. Keep up the good work. Missing it (only a little). Jenxx
3. trevor archbold, dry land 13 March 2008
Ah, the great weird dreams on the boat - a very special part of the race.
I just hope that you don’t call out in your sleep like I did - get lot of abuse for that!
Congrats on coming second in the race and without any serious injuries (I hope!)
Very important to keep the mast in one piece as well.......
Well done guys on what was obviously a really tough race.
Trev
4. Linda Purdom, Bainbridge Is., WA USA 14 March 2008
Well done NY. From a wife’s point of view...thank you Clipper for going for safety. The fact that two boats demasted and no one hurt was great. Let’s not push our luck. Second place is great!
Linda Purdom
5. michael, England 14 March 2008
Well done New York...2rd place in what sounded like a really tough leg...Have fun chillin out in hawaii..
mike
6. Jo, London 14 March 2008
Well done all. Now perhaps some sweet dreams as you sail on to Hawaii! Enjoy the podium. LOL Jo xxxxxx
7. Nicholas Gibbs, Haslemere 14 March 2008
Well done once again guys.
The on watch off watch drerams sound very familiar....do I get out of my bunk or don’t I!!! Have a great time in Honalulu.
Nick
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