Race 10 - Day 16
Crew Diary - Race 10 Day 16: Seattle to Panama
16 May
Another Special Sunday
Sunday was another day to remember in this voyage of experiences. On watch at 03:00 for the night watch to breakfast and just been to review the weather over the watch period and skipper asks me to brief from the companionway steps. Why? Not usual comes to mind but nearly watch handover time so put my head up and the crew on deck gave a rendition of Happy Birthday. A nice touch! No birthday day off though, still need to keep the boat sailing, make sure all the safety checks have been done on Safety Sunday and my life jacket number 2 has been inspected and repacked. However, it was still a special day as there was a nice package that I found in my bag when I unpacked my kit to stow. Cards from home and some nice little gifts to unwrap. All the crew also make this a day to remember, as they do for all birthdays onboard. They don't let you forget you are a year older by singing Happy Birthday each time you call out your muster number and a decorative banner adorns the galley. The bistro babes Maeve and Jess also cooked a lovely meal and even rustled up a celebratory cake in the evening.
This is one of the nice things about our boat. It has a family feel. Birthdays are remembered and as you are not at home, it is made special so thank you to all my crew mates for making the 13th an unforgeable birthday at sea.
May is also a month of birthdays that need to be remembered and which we are away for. Sarah, my wife's, on May 27th and Greg's sister Lorie celebrated hers on 15th. Even though we are away, the ability to phone home via Satphone and to communicate by email from the boat does allow us to keep in contact with loved ones from afar which is so important.
Now I must get back to the Dr G's diner, buy a single shot expresso and use his internet for the rest of the afternoon before I go back on watch.
Signing off from Position N16 17.352 W099 09.768 just off the Mexican Coast.
Graham – Day 197 at sea.