Race 6 - Day 18
Crew Diary - Race 6 Day 18
13 February
For those of you who have never stepped foot onboard a Clipper 70 I thought it might be fun to describe the simple process of getting into bed. At home to get into bed after cleaning my teeth, I undress and I simply walk up to the bed across the bedroom floor, sit on the edge then lie down. Simples. Onboard life is different.
On deck, watch over and after the handover to the next watch is done. I collect my ondeck belongings, water bottle, any litter from the deck: empty mugs, my sun hat etc and stuff all these things into my pockets and start the descent down the companionway (ladder to you landlubbers.)
I climb down two rungs and hook my left foot under a rung and lean to the right side to balance, holding on with one hand and using the other to unclip my tether. Once inside I descend the ladder carefully using the bulkhead as support and then stick my right leg out to the side 90 degrees to brace myself against the handrail in the wet locker. Down one more rung of the ladder and foot stuck out again, this time against the lower part of the wall until I reach the floor.
Once there I use the rope that is slung across from side to side to haul myself up to the starboard (right) side. With a nifty spin, I fling myself onto the bench and brace my feet against the side walls of the galley to prevent falling. Now starts the laborious process of disrobing, thankfully this leg is not cold so no drysuit and midlayers. Life jacket comes with me to my bunk and is stored at my feet, in a pocket, ready to grab in an emergency. My lifejacket is often wet and as the bunks are only just long enough to lie in there is a soggy lifejacket to rest your feet on. After I deposit my lifejacket and lay out my waterproof mattress cover and pillow, no sleeping bag on this leg as the temperatures down below are volcanic, we just lie as naked as is decent on the bunks. The chaps in their boxers and the lasses in big Bridget Jones style knickers and sports bras.
A trip to the heads comes before my ascent to my top bunk. The heads (loo) is behind a canvas curtain nest to the galley (kitchen.) Zero privacy and at 45 degrees it is a challenge to manoeuvre your posterior into position. Elbows stuck out against the walls for support and hand on the pump ready to evacuate the bowl in case of any erratic movement of the boat. The last thing you want are waves in the toilet bowl, you get the picture :) Mission accomplished and it’s time to start my climb.
I pre tilt my bed to the highest angle so that while I sleep I don’t get thrown to the floor six foot down. First step up with my left foot on the edge of the storage area, right foot up against the bunk on the opposite side of the ghetto, then left foot higher to the edge of the bunk below me, careful not to stand on anyone occupying it. Now the snazzy bit, right foot up high to the exhaust pipes from the engine and I am nearly high enough, legs straddling the walkway, to perform a twist and roll. Bum on the edge of my bunk, hands braced one against the wall the other on the ceiling, legs flip up and I am in. Lying squashed against the bulkhead, bed tilted, hopefully at just the right angle and my face about 18 inches from the ceiling. It’s like an adult Jungle Gym, just getting from the deck to bed involves several intricate climbing moves.
Last job before I can rest is to tie up my leecloth, which is a fabric side to the bunk, this protects us from falling and gives a modicum of privacy. I have made it, I am in. A wriggle about and I get my hip wedged just so against the bulkhead and plug in my power bank to the small plastic fan that clips to each bunk and try to position it to move a bit of air across my face. Close my eyes and rest, hopefully sleep will come, I only have just over 2 hours until it is time for my next watch.