Race 13 - Day 3
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry to Liverpool
24 July

Is it the end or a new beginning?

Hello fans of Hotelplanner.com!

We are near the end and I hope you are all prepared – what are you going to do when there is no more race viewer to follow?! No more good tips to send to the boats about how to sail and wondering why we don't do what you would do, I mean that would have been the easy and obvious option, right?!

You sense it already, there it is again, my old bloging problem: no clue what really to write about:

– Crew analysis have been done a few times now, so I don't think more are needed. BUT I need to mention Maeve, as she is an awesome chef (on bistro service today and I want that second brownie) and makes everyone laugh all the time...

– Food, living at 45 degrees etc., all been done multiple times before, but it seems we getting all of that again on this short passage to Liverpool.

– Strategy and tactics – we gave all the other boats a little head-start this time, so we have a nice challenge to win back some places now. It seems to work :)

– My 'home-coming' feelings are not yet clear to me at all, but I can give it a try. It's gonna be great to be home, but I will miss the oceans (all 5 of them) and this amazing crew! It's going to feel awkward not to have 20 people constantly around me.

Looking back over the last year, I should maybe start with some 'Thank-you' shout outs:

First to my girlfriend – hey we made it! :)

Second to my family and friends, who followed, supported and visited me around the world.

Then the supporters (many, I think, are now also in the friends category) who were there at the stop-overs and made our lives easier. Special thank-you to Gerry Glover, without you I would have slept on the boat on quite a few stop-overs!

And not least the crew of CV23, what a great bunch of individuals. The RTW (round the worlders) managed to stick together all the way (Greg A. you are with us here, even if you can't). The 'Leggers' integrated well and gave every leg its own special atmosphere.

Last but still not least, the Race Office and entire Clipper Crew – without you none if this would be possible! Thank you for giving all of us this opportunity!

With someone very special, I conducted a little interview for you and here is the transcript:

“Nic S: CV23, I know you're in the middle of a race at the moment, so thank you for taking the time. In a few words – How was it for you?

CV23: My best circumnavigation so far, by far! Others were nice as well, but this one was special.

Nic S: What made it so special for you?

CV23: There are lots of things – often little things, special moments. Maybe a good way to summarize it is to say, I think I was the boat everybody would have loved to be on, depsite our ranking.

Nic S: You mention the ranking there and I believe you are currently fighting two other boats not to become last – probably a similarly exciting race as the competition for the overall winner. How do you feel about it?

CV23: Winning is important for all of us – it is a race in the end. Yet, winning is not everything. My priority is to bring the crew home safely. In return they gifted me the win of the Sydney-Hobart race – and that was a really special moment. Unforgettable!

Nic S: How was you relationship with the crew?

CV23: They basically worshipped me as their Goddess. And rightfully so. Where would they be without me. Even the skipper did at some mornings a (weird) routine of getting down on all fours on the foredeck and bending in different ways to show his appreciation (he calls it yoga, but I know what he means!). The crew often scrubbed me and perfumed me, so that even the maintenance crew made me their temple during our visit to Panama. Otherwise they sailed me fast, but considerate. They looked well after me and my sails (most of the time) and brought me around in one piece.

Nic S: Were there any scary moments for you?

CV23: Ah c'mon. This is not my first rodeo! We had some strong winds in the Pacific, but nothing I can't handle. There were a few scenes in the Southern Ocean, where I needed to get the crew trained a bit more, but there also nothing they couldn't handle – that was more for strengthing the bond between me and the crew.

The armadas of fihsing boats around China, were something else. Not necessarily scary, more sad. There can't be anymore fish there. It's just not sustainable.

Nic S.: What did you enjoy the most?

CV23: The entire journey itself was great, not easy to pick a highlight. I always like playing with the dolphins and whales (if the don't come to close). Although the parades in and out of the different ports were nice (and Derry where I led the parade, made it really amazing for me and the crew), I'm an ocean racing yacht. Ocean racing is what my heart beats for. When the crew hoists the spinnakers and we are going over 20kts downwind, surfing the big waves, that's when I'm in my element!

Nic S.: The journey ends soon. How do you feel about that and what's next for you?

CV23: It's always sad to see a crew leave. I built their character and taught them how to sail, what will they do without me. I'm a bit scared for them. For me – I'm getting older and I'm looking forward to getting pampered in Gosport, maybe even get out of the water for a while. Yet, the itch is already there. I think I have another circumnavigation in me, if I find another close-knit crew like this one. I can't imagine myself without racing. However, Hollywood made me some offers as well after they saw some documentaries about my life. So movie star could be another career opportunity, which I have rejected so far, but I have to admit I really look good on film.

Nic S.: Could you describe...

CV23: Sorry – that's all the time I have for you! I have to get the crew working again and hint to them some reef or sail changes or make someone's life misrable on the heads, so they know who the boss is! … ahhh you didn't record that, did you? Hey don't walk away. I didn't mean that. I meant 'make someone's life LESS misarable..'”