Race 5 - Day 13
Crew Diary - Race 5 - Day 13
06 January

Lawrence Twele
Lawrence Twele
Team Dare To Lead
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Martian. That is the only way to describe it.

The day started off like any typical day - a series of sail plan changes to adjust to the course and conditions. The sky was blue and we were beginning to enjoy more balmy conditions as we headed north from the Bass Straits toward the southeastern coast of mainland Australia.

But as the hours passed and the wind began to freshen, a foreboding darker sky lay ahead. Soon the sun began to fade behind a haze and while the acrid smell in the air reminded some of a barbeque, it could not be mistaken that we were experiencing the effects of the extensive bushfires in the Australian state of New South Wales. Even the wildlife knew it. We noticed we hadn't been visited by our pelagic avian friends in quite a while.

As we made progress forward, the air became even more dense with haze and the entire sky took on an eerie red-orange glow that can best be described as the pictures we've seen sent from the surface of Mars. Even the indigo blue water seemed to turn an inky black. It was 1500 hours local time and twilight had descended upon us – but in a hue none of us had ever seen before. It seemed almost apocalyptic.

It wasn't long before darkness set in prematurely and as the crew set to their evening watches, a different challenge was ahead. The smoke in the air was not letting any moon or starlight through which we rely on as we stand watch during the night hours. We use that ambient light and as our eye adjusts, surprisingly we are able to see the deck, the water, and our local environment. But tonight was a particular challenge, especially for the crew at the helm who had no star reference or could see the horizon to help guide them. But the crew performed and got us through the night, relying on their experience and training. And also credit must go to Cecillia's lentil stew that gave warmth and fuel to help us get through the night.

Morning woke slowly as we continued north through most of the haze, but we send cheers to the brave men and women of the Rural Fire Service fighting these fires, and we keep in our thoughts and prayers the families and wildlife impacted by this national disaster.