Race 10 - Day 17
Crew Diary - Race 10 Day 17: Seattle to Panama
17 May
Panama, here we come.
And we are nearly there (hopefully). Only 40 miles to the end of the second gate and its highly likely this is the last gate we will have to cross before beginning the 1000+ mile motor into Panama. We are all slightly apprehensive about this long motor as we are all aware of the heat the engine will cause below deck and make sleeping difficult but on the bright side it should mean that we can get all of our cleaning, washing and maintenance done on the way in and have lots of time off to spend exploring Panama City... and more important for the majority of crew on board is that they can watch the football on the 26th.
Thinking about our arrival to port has made me think over the past few days about one of the highlights of my Clipper Race journey. We travel as a tight knit crew all around the world, we arrive in every stopover to ten other teams doing exactly the same thing. It didn't take us long to get to know these other teams and they have for sure become as much a part of the experience as my own team on HotelPlanner.com. Every stopover we get off the boats to an excited group of people that we have met along the way and made friendships with these people that will last a lifetime. Everyone on board each boat has to have a really good attitude and outlook on things to be able to complete this journey so it comes as no surprise that we all get on so well – the amazing Clipper Race parties with lots of Stormhoek wine tends to help things too!
I remember in Uruguay looking around at Visit Seattle dancing on tables, Liverpool 2018 having dance offs (with shirts off), Nasdaq and ourselves almost missing the bus trying to squeeze the last bit of dancing out of the Asado. We were all very much separate teams in those early days but have gotten to know each other so well that we are now like a massive family all willing to help each other out (thank you Bill and Simone from Garmin for the teabags and best party organisers on the fleet, Claire from Liverpool 2018 for the joint food melt down and gins, Fiona from PSP Logistics for all her help bandaging half the fleet up when we are in port, this list is endless!) and cheer each other on, especially when the weather gets tough or we are having problems with our boats.
It makes Prizegiving these days like a huge family wedding where every one dances with each other (mostly with shirts on, unfortunately not always tho!) and we are ALL being kicked out of whatever bar we ended up in at last last last orders.
I am very thankful for all these other wonderful like minded people that this experience has provided, it is not something that I had initially thought would come as part of this package.
Lots of Love to Mammy, Daddy, Danielle and Connor – oh and a massive happy birthday to my sister!! I tried to give you a call but had to leave a voicemail, hope you got it – Love you!!
Roseann xx