Race 3 - Day 17
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 17: Cape Town to Fremantle
17 November

Michael Husband
Michael Husband
Team Dare To Lead
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Thoughts... A Penny For Them

First of all thankfully all on Greenings are safe; I know it's a disaster to lose the boat but to know everyone was is safe is a godsend.

Well we have arrived at Day 17 of Leg 3 the “Southern Ocean Sleigh Ride.” I must admit personally I've lost track of days. Looking back on the voyage so far... overriding description is relentless. At times you just have to endure. The ocean just grinds you down. #As I've said before, it's like the boxer Marvin Hagler who just kept hurting his opponents that by the end of the bout they were totally up but this also has the capability of a big knockout punch. As me Gran would say: “It's a good life if you don't weaken our Mike.” On a positive note, the achievement will be that much greater when we do get to Fremantle.

Oh the title 'sleigh ride': Well, Santa has taken all those sleighs up to Lapland. I think 12 days beating directly into a head wind isn't typical for down here. We draw lots for bunk allocation which left me on the high side in an upper bunk. Thoughts I wish I could have the ability of Dynamo to levitate into my bunk after a watch, as you are faced with the equivalent of the north face of the Eiger with the bunk being death bivouac. At least once there you can relax as long as you have secured your lee cloth.

Wild life: sea birds, I imagine, are like war planes. You have the albatross which I imagine as the B52 bomber, the petrels as the Lancaster bombers going on the dam buster raids and the shearwaters like Spitfires in dog fights with each other over the southern downs of England.

The steel grey skies and sea are such a contrast to the deep blues of earlier days or the green of the Yorkshire dales but the majesty of the power is awesome.

Well, we have broken the back of the voyage but I'm not underestimating what might be ahead.

Brought to you by Mick