Race 3 - Day 10
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 10: Cape Town to Fremantle
10 November

Another relentless day of upwind sailing here in the Southern Ocean is coming to its end. It's been now more than 24 hours on 45 degrees plus. You slowly become familiar with the boat slamming into the waves, you become familiar with getting in and out of your bunk, and you also become familiar with the fact that going anywhere on this boat requires climbing. But all in all, you never really get fully used to it because everything you want to do is about 10 times harder than when the boat is level. At this point a big thank you should go out to everyone who is on mother duty during these times, they are the real heroes and heroines of 45 degree ocean sailing. They keep the crew fed in conditions that are simply unimaginable if you haven't experienced it yourself.

Nonetheless, the whole crew on board is in a good mood and is making the best out of the hard situation. We all seem to be coping quite well with living at an angle in such a crowded space. During watch changeover this crowded space becomes even more confined as the whole crew is basically in and around the saloon area, getting ready to go up on deck, or undressing to head back into their bunks. Sometimes, getting to where you want requires a climb.

Now that the weather is colder, we rotate the people up on deck to make sure that no-one gets too cold. Being on deck usually means being wet and cold. A rotation down below and a hot drink is almost essential to keep us going. For everyone who hopes to stay dry, there is no chance. The Southern Ocean seems to make sure that you get your money's worth by splashing you with wet salt water in the most inconvenient moments. For example, you just managed to stay fairly dry for the whole of your six hour shift, and you are now making your way down below. Happy and jolly you almost reach the companionway steps, when the ocean kindly reminds you that sailing is a water sport after all. Similarly, down below there is no escape from the wet. Due to the amount of water up on deck, opening a window becomes nearly impossible. So all the moisture of the air and our wet gear collects inside the boat and coats everything in a thin film of moisture. Hanging up clothes to dry doesn't really work either.

The upside to all this? We are on our way flying to Australia. With all the hardships that the Southern Ocean throws at you, it also rewards you with good winds and a lot of fun for those who like high action sailing. With good speeds, we are crashing along wave for wave getting ever closer to the next port and our competition ahead. The winds have steadied a little in the last 24 hours and we are well set up for catching up with everyone. Let's see how close we can get. In the meantime, hot drinks and warm food will keep us going.