Race 3 - Day 15
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 15: Cape Town to Fremantle
15 November
As someone who has followed the sport of boxing for most of my life, sailing the Southern Ocean made me think of a boxing analogy to describe my experience.
The Southern Ocean reminds me of a veteran world boxing Champion, tamer of all contenders, more victories than all others and most importantly, unbeaten.
I am yet another contender, with no previous experience, who, having now completed my Clipper training, am now possibly a credible challenger to the undisputed Champion.
Round One starts as expected with the contender being very cautious and listening to all instructions from his corner. The Champion however, has no respect for the challenger and continues with its usual aggressive approach and throws everything at him. He doesn't seem concerned, the result is always the same.
As the fight continues through the early rounds, the challenger starts to build confidence as he learns on the job. He's ducking and diving, bobbing and weaving and thinks to himself, yes, I've got this.
By Round Six, with the challenger on the helm during his night watch in heavy(ish) seas with changeable winds, the Champion steps it up a gear. The over confident challenger is sailing too close the the wind and one rogue wave and boom! He's down, the boats heaved to, the challenger's confidence has gone and he's back to the corner with his head down.
Round Seven and after some good advice from the corner (Watch Leader) and the challenger goes back out with his head up raring to go.
The next few rounds follow the same pattern. The challenger, gaining knowledge all of the time, is now defending wave after wave of relentless attack from the merciless undefeated Champion.
As the fight gets to the closing stages though, the Champion steps it up a gear....changeable winds and rogue waves are relentless. The challenger, his stamina depleted from days of beating upwind loses focus for a brief moment and he's down.....the boat's heaved to again and this time he doesn't get up, it's over for this watch.
As the challenger walks back to his corner, head down, thinking about where he went wrong, another fresh inexperienced challenger steps up and climbs through the ropes, preparing to take the fight to the Champ.
The veteran Champion, not an ounce of sweat on him looks extremely confident as he awaits the arrival of more fresh meat, another new upstart attempting to take his crown.
Today was not my day, but tomorrow is another day... I want a rematch, I can take this Champ!
As a footnote, the boats communications are down and I have no way of contacting my family so hopefully they will see this. I love you guys, I'm having a great time and I'm being safe. I can't wait to see you, not long now.