Race 7 - Day 22
Crew Diary - Race 7 Day 22: Whitsundays to Sanya
21 February
So, what happens on a stopover?
Hi everyone, and a big hi to Dad who has been waiting for my first blog for a while! As we countdown the miles to Sanya and plan our time ashore I thought I'd write about what happens on a stopover.
Arrival at the pontoon is great fun with other teams, supporters and race office crew there to greet. Once formalities are dispensed with, the cool box of beer and soft drinks arrives to much delight...sugar rush! The rest of the first day is free time as people indulge in showers, rich food, try find their accommodation and rush to WiFi zones to get in touch with friends and family.
The work begins in earnest the next day, with a Rig Check which is a thorough inspection of the mast and all the standing rigging by our Skipper Conall, and two crew manning the winches that hoist him up. The other big job is the Safety Check which is carried out by our Safety officers Graham Hill and Carsten Busk. This involves inspecting and testing all our safety equipment on board from fire extinguishers, safety torches, guard rail netting, MOB gear, bilge alarms, through hull fittings and everything in between. While this is going on the rest of us are engaged in the dreaded Deep Clean. Everything that can be removed from inside the boat is brought out onto the deck and pontoon and given a good wash. First comes the personal gear, bags, wellies, sleeping bags etc. Foulies and lifejackets are hung on the railings, ropes and sails brought up on the foredeck and all are rinsed. Mattresses are brought up and sprayed, kitchenware given a good scrub, and all spare food, navigation and admin stuff boxed and put on the pontoon too. Then the floorboards are brought up to be given a good scrub and hose down. Down below all nooks and crannies are given a good power hose and a clean out. Often 'lost items' are found down the bilges, behind beds and in the biscuit cupboard...
The next few days are tied up with maintenance. We have been making a list of jobs while out at sea and on some of our windless days have been ticking off some, but of course more pop up. Classifying the jobs as 'must haves' and 'nice to haves' helps keep us focused. Parts are collected, and advice sought from the excellent Maintenance Crew at the container.
There are a few main departments: Sail Repair led by Mary Frawley, which involves fixing any tears, replacing any damaged hanks and poppers, creating strops and donuts. Bosun led by Nic Schellenberg on winch servicing and repairing, Adrian Hemmes on Ropework and Blocks (pulleys). Ropework involves milking and whipping ropes and end-for-ending them to change the points of chafe. Victualling led by Roseann McGlinchey includes scouting out shops, devising a suitable menu, shopping and packing the supplies in day bags and general stores.
We have two corporate commitments here in Sanya, an open boat day where the general public can come on board and see what a Clipper 70 looks like and ask crew a whole range of questions, and all boats are involved in a Regatta to showcase the fun and excitement of inshore racing with these powerful boats...hopefully no wind hole that day either!
On the day before race start all teams have a race brief to give us course instructions, race start timetable and general information for the leg or arrival in the next port. Somewhere in between crew enjoy some time off to enjoy the sights, sounds and culinary delights of the host port. And we are really looking forward to our time in Sanya. Some crew have signed up for the Cooking Lessons to learn how to prepare dumplings and other delights, some are booking tickets to the Cirque du Soleil show or the music festival that are in town, others are doing sightseeing trips and one has decided to rent a scooter and zoom around the island herself!
Anyways only 307 nautical miles to go... (4402 sailed so far this leg)
Le Gra,
April