Race 7 - Day 5
Crew Diary - Life On Board During a Short Race - About 10 Days
28 February
It is like a long race, but a little more competitive. I can't imagine a three day race! Two things are very important: 1. sleeping; and 2. eating.
1. Sleeping: Always the same thing - having time to sleep. It seems to be the same for all the crew: it's missing. Sleeping is well organised. One bunk for two people; one sleeping and one working. But, to change a sail quickly and safely, sometimes the two watches work together. So the sleeping time is shorter for all the crew. Afterwards, on the deck, the orders, the noise of the wind, the sails, the grinders, the water stop us sleeping as we hear what is happening above deck. Added to this noise, people listening to music, laughing, and snoring stop us sleeping. However, we are happy if we are going fast. If there is no wind, there are not the same noises.
2. Eating: When the boat is flat, no problem, it's nearly like at home. However, when it's 45 degrees, or tacking (turning into the wind on the other side of the boat), everything in the galley (kitchen) jerks. It's difficult to keep the liquid in the pans. The water, salty or fresh, doesn't flow from the pipes, even if we pump with our feet. It's not a tap. We do the washing up with salt water. Each drinking bottle is attached to the boat with a carabiner. If not, everything falls, or rather flies and this can be dangerous. I can't imagine what would happen if there was oil spilled on the floor! We would be skating and falling! A line is attached across the boat down below and we climb up and down the saloon gripping this line like a tug of war. Our muscles work a lot.
Going to the toilet (heads) is a sport. I don't mention showers, because we don't have any. We use baby wipes and flannels for a quick sponge. We don't use fresh water because the water maker already works a lot simply for drinking water.
A big kiss to my granddaughter named Philippine, from the Philippines! Happy birthday to her and her twin Arthus. They will be 18 on the 9th of March. Salut a toute la famille.