Race 3 - Day 21
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 21: Cape Town to Fremantle
21 November
Days at sea: 21
Number of souls on board: 18
Kilos of dulce de leche consumed: 4.5 / 5kg
Percentage of parmesan wheel demolished: 65%
Readiness to arrive in Fremantle: 10000000000000000000%
So, I thought I would give you 10 expert tips on Southern Ocean racing that we have learnt during Leg 3 - the Dell Latitude Rugged Race, to give it its formal title.
1. Have a s*** before you put your drysuit on – seriously. Regardless of whether you need the heads or not, go spend some time in there.
2. Don't wear sunglasses while climbing out on the bowsprit... particularly if Elvis is helming. You will get fully submerged and they will be stripped from you.
3. Double sleeping bag is the answer. My bunk buddy and I came up with a genius bunk plan that involves my sleeping bag on the bottom and hers on the top. They nicely velcro together on the cold nights and is much easier to get into and out of – like a regular duvet.
4. Following on from point 3, ensure you and your bunk buddy shower/wetwipe on the same schedule, so you don't notice the smell.
5. Learn to swallow your toothpaste while brushing. Makes life a lot easier than climbing up and down the ghetto corridors at 45 degrees to get to the heads.
6. Don't trust the last Volvo Ocean Race winning skipper when he tells you not to buy shell style mid-layers. We are not Volvo sailors and spend a lot more time sitting around....cold.
7. Crocs aren't good enough. Sometimes there is so much “spillage” in the heads you need inside boots and outside boots. Gross.
8. Although they appear to be the most useless item of clothing (why cut off the sleeves?) a puffy gilet is bloody brilliant. Pink is a fetching colour.
9. Avoid wooling a cold, wet spinnaker. Or if you can't avoid it, don't stop for dinner halfway through. It won't get any drier or warmer.
10. A good watch is essential. Choose the Elliot Brown Broadstone.
Trust me on these. Follow these top tips and you too can make the Southern Ocean your b****.
Ciao.
James Dreamboat McSmokey McFeelings Macfee (not a real doctor, aspiring dentist)