Race 6 - Day 10
Crew Diary - Race 6 Day 10: Hobart to Whitsundays
15 January
Redman's Blog Part Eight:
The End
So this is it.
This is the end.
The end of my Clipper Race.
I'm the type of person where I have to say things out loud over and over again to make sure that it actually happens. This may be my way of manifesting my destiny or willing the universe to make these things happen. Or it may just be that once I've said something outloud to a group of people, my over inflated ego is too big to let me back down and not do it. It's probably the latter. In any case this is the end of my Clipper Race.
God I don't want it to be the end of my Clipper Race.
I've never had so much fun in my life. I've probably already rambled on in previous blogs about how fulfilling the race has been and how fantastic sailing with this crew is, but seriously this s*** is the best! I have created memories that will last me a life time, learnt new skills which will stay with me forever and made some new friends who I hope to be able to keep around for a very long time indeed.
To be honest, I'm almost at a loss for words to describe how I'm feeling right now (almost being the operative word). I mean, think about it. I signed up for the race back in May 2016, largely on a whim after my birthday. I then did my first level of training, terrified might I add, in November and since then; well it's been a whirlwind ever since. For the better part of the past two years, the Clipper Race has been in my life and with every passing day it took up more and more of my attention and focus. It's been the driving force behind most of the big decisions I've made during this time (pretty girls being the other most important reason for doing anything). Everything I've done has revolved around the Clipper Race in some way and on 30 January when I fly home to Sydney from Airlie Beach it will all end. What the hell am I going to do with myself?!
I tell you what though if this is to be the end, and I repeat that it is, then what a bloody fantastic ending to have! Every leg that I've done has been amazing but this race from Hobart to Airlie Beach has been a particular stand out. This edition of our pink crew has been together now for over a month, completing two races and now we've really hit our stride. Normally when we start a race we all sit down as a team and talk about our feelings and how we think we will perform and blah blah blah... This time round though we didn't really mess about with all that. We just woke up early, got on deck and started sailing.
You could feel that there was something different about everyone. I'm not sure whether it was because it was the last race of Leg 4, whether it was because a large number of us are leaving after this leg, or if it's just because we all really wanted to get to Airlie Beach, but the vibe was amped. And it's continued all the way from race start until now, one day prior to race finish. This up vibe hasn't just been about the sailing either. Everyone is laughing, singing and getting stuck in as best they can at everything. I've never seen this boat look so clean, the bilges have been pumped to the end of their life and some of the best meals of the trip have been served this race. Put it this way – Pretty Ricky and his big mate Fretts are reknowned for being terrible mothers and today they served steak with veg and cake for dessert. In the words of old man Grandpa Sherri, “For two s*** cooks this was bloody fantastic!”
We've sailed at the front of the pack for the whole race and everyone has just been amazing. To finish on the podium, let alone in first place, would be the perfect way to end my adventure but to be honest I couldn't care less how this ends. I am so, so proud of everyone on our boat for stepping it up a notch and I take my hat off to all of them. As a team, I think that Liverpool 2018 might have developed a bit of a reputation for being the fun party boat that always comes in at the back of the pack. We were the team that everyone (and I do mean everyone) wanted to play with, but no one was really bothered about us beating them because we weren't seen as competitive. I'm here to say that that is complete nonsense. Liverpool 2018 is the best team in the fleet and we are bloody good sailors who can hold our own with the best of them! We will drink you under the table, dance you off the dance floor and then the next day sail faster than you and do it all without a hang over. Either that or will beat you with a hang over and that's just even more embarrassing for you. Our boat has some of the best sailors on it and I will miss each and everyone of them dearly.
And obviously we have the best skipper. Not only is he a brilliant captain, he is safe, fast, motivational and hilarious. I mean have you read his Skipper's Blogs, the guy's a classic!
I'm not very good at goodbyes so I'll just wind this up here and say see ya later and safe sailing. Keep pushing for whatever gets you up in the morning and if you're feeling bored then maybe think about spending all of your life's savings on running away and floating about the ocean in a little tin can. And if you do, here's hoping that your tin can is as jam packed with awesomeness as our pink one is.
Cheers and Think Pink
Redman
P.S. One last thing... Where is Jonny Prosecco?