Race 2 - Day 4
Crew Diary - Race 2, Day 4
19 September

What did the cheese say when it saw its reflection in the mirror?

It’s 3am and I’ve just come off watch and this was one of the many ‘cheese jokes’ from the last three hours. I do love the night watches at the moment. Such a difference to our first race, where we were tossed around the deck and pelted at regular intervals and with some force by freezing cold water, with the texture of concrete.

Such a contrast. Now we have calm moonlit nights, which are so warm and we are on the deck in just shorts and t-shirts. Gone is the sickness, and the worry and uncertainty. We are so much more confident in ourselves, and in our sailing ability, we are, I feel, a very strong team.

This second race is a marathon, not a sprint, and we have much more time to discuss and to learn. Wavy asked today who would be interested in learning how to use a sextant, without exception we all said we want to, we are keen to add to our growing skills.

It’s not all work though. I have aching tummy muscles, not from throwing up, but from laughing. There’s Mike, who I’m pleased to say has now beaten his chronic seasickness, but the tablets he took on the first day had some unwelcome (for him) side effects. He started hallucinating, and the rest of us on deck were in stitches as he explained he was seeing ‘Dementors’ on the guard rails. Now I haven’t read Harry Potter but apparently they are creatures from the books and they don’t sound too friendly. Then there was our on the deck yoga, again probably not very constructive as we got the giggles halfway through. I’m pleased there were no cameras!

Adrian is always one for teasing both Caroline and me; and tonight was no exception, he has a wicked sense of humour, as a fashion photographer, I really don’t know how his models keep straight faces.

I suppose I’d better try and sleep before my next watch. I do seem overly keen and keep appearing on deck in my life vest on other watches not quite awake, just to be sent back to bed again.

Oh and Adam’s joke above? The answer?

Halloumi!