Race 2 - Day 15
Crew Diary - Race 2 Day 15: Punta del Este to Cape Town
19 October

Julie Dann
Julie Dann
Team Liverpool 2018
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As the sun sets on the first part of my pink journey, it's time to reflect on the last 15 days.

Firstly let's get the challenges out of the way:

1) Seasickness – I've been lucky in the past, laid low for an hour or two, but not this time. The wrath of the South Atlantic hit me squarely in the stomach and for 2 days I was thrown around my bunk as we hit massive wave after wave. I could barely sit up, let alone stand. Day 3 I forced myself to eat - one rice crispy at a time. 3 times I tried to get dressed, only for the wave of nausea to reappear as I tried to get my foulie top over my head. Dejected I would sit on the sofa as my watch went on deck. I finally ejected myself out of the hatch, landing face down on the deck (which I'm afraid to say smelt rather badly of vomit) but still I was elated to have made it beyond my bunk.

2) Settling in – we newbies were warmly welcomed; shout out to my amazing mentor Wes and superstar James (not a real doctor or dentist even but very much a real watch leader). It is tough joining a slick racing team and it takes time to settle in. I've already written about some of the challenges, but there's so much to learn about how things are done on board. I've felt truly settled for the last week or so and I'm disappointed that this stage of our journey is nearly over; I'd like to stay and take on the Southern ocean to Australia (but don't worry kids I am coming home!)

Of course there were other lows – the fear as I woke in the early hours as we crashed gybed (sail speak for the boat lurching violently from one side to the other) as our helmsman lost his footing. And then there's the cold. Sitting inactive on deck at night brings back memories of arctic storms, a deep cold in my back despite layer upon layer of warm clothing (and still you fancy the Southern Ocean I hear you say).

Let's move on to 5 things I've enjoyed most:

1) Pink team spirit – the strong feeling of unity amongst the pink crew, led by skipper Lance, extending inter watch (even though we've practically had very little time together)

2) So much laughter – the jokes (eggs always prompt eggstraordinarily bad ones), Albert the Bear and his antics and so much more

3) Getting away from it all – of course I've missed my family and friends, but it's great to be out on the open water, hearing the waves crashing, albatrosses flying high, all the stresses of day to day life left firmly behind

4) Learning new skills – in training I almost sailed us into the Isle of Wight (a big island just off the South coast of England). Having vowed never to get behind the wheel again, I have helmed in high winds (reaching 17kts, not bad for a rookie I'm told), under spinnaker and most difficult of all at night in light winds (think 'doughnuts').

5) Building new friendships – we are all now interconnected and I'm confident friendships will endure well beyond this race, my new pink buddies are so important to me and I want to thank every one of them for playing their part.

10 years ago I added 'sail across the Atlantic' to my bucket list. Another adventure ticked off but it's been so much more, and I don't just mean 2 Atlantic crossings instead of one. It will be with a heavy heart that I leave in Cape Town but I am already excited at the thought of re-joining in New York to complete the final journey back to Liverpool. I'll be like a little girl counting the days until Santa visits. In the meantime I may need therapy for my race viewer addiction

Remember to Think Pink and vote for Liverpool 2018 in the Stormhoek Social Spirit Award, making sure you give a reason so your vote counts!

Julie Ashmore Dann, Liverpool 2018 & Stormhoek Ambassador, 18th October 2017