Race 3 - Day 18
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 18: Cape Town to Fremantle
18 November

David Phillips
David Phillips
Team Nasdaq
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This started in the vibrant port in South Africa. As we set sail it felt quite emotional as I waved to the filming helicopter in hope family at home may pick me out of the crew on Nasdaq, although the whole crew were dressed in the team colours so I knew it was always unlikely I would be seen, but waved anyway.

As we left the harbour a couple of seals popped up, they seem to cruise sideways with their flippers sticking up from the water. That's the 1st time I've seen seals outside a zoo. We were then greeted by another seal at sea tossing the very large fish it caught from side to side apparently to make smaller size pieces to eat. It was then I realised I would there would be sights on this journey that I am very, very privileged to see.

As we progress through the Southern Ocean, this yacht relentlessly pushes on day and night. At times it seems it will never end and you start to realise how far 4750 nautical miles are. In the 1st week we spent 7 days or so continuously bashing into the wind and waves, it was relentless, the constant thudding of the bow as it bounced, pushed and crashed into the ocean with such violence, at times it seemed like you were in a tumble dryer and other times as though you were in one car crash after another, it wears you down and made you wonder what on earth you were doing on this boat and why you have left the comfort of a beautiful home, family and friends.

Then I saw 3 whales breaching. They were some way off the stern, then two whales within 10 feet of the boat as I was helming. The elegance of the Albatross birds as they follow you across this ocean and seeing such sights make you glad to be here and you forget the constant hardship on board.

Getting around this boat can be so hard, its often heeled at 45 degrees, everyone struggles just to get around and when you do move it's sheer luck if you make it without a slip or without bashing into something. There are no soft surfaces on this boat and it's as though the designers have intentionally put obstacles in every possible location. It is relentless. Simple tasks become a major exercise in working out how to do it safely whilst at this ridiculous angle and whilst experiencing weightlessness as the bow launches above the next wave and again your body leaves the safety of the floor up into the air. At one point I hit the ceiling and Alex the on board doctor thought I was concussed whilst my crew partner at that time suffered bruised ribs. If it wasn't so bloody sore it would be comical. Every part of your body is bashed bruised or hurts in some way or another. Words cannot describe the experiences on deck, moving about and carrying out your task one-handed when really you need 3 hands just to do your job (one hand always holding on to something) is just ridiculous.

I brought the Henri Lloyd drysuit on a just in case basis, great idea except that means you're one of the few best dressed to do the bow work. This is some of the best fun you will ever have in your life. You will change sails often in very high wind, it will take every ounce of your strength to wrestle the sails to the deck and secure them in place, you will be constantly overwhelmed by the waves crashing over you, the weightlessness as the bow rises above the waves then the violent thud as it slams back into the sea with the inevitable drenching that will follow. In these conditions you will fight the sails, you will hang well over the guard rail as the sea rises above the toe rail and floods the deck, you will hold on for dear life and hope when you land you will be on the inside of the boat. Once Damien and I got hit by such a large wave we were washed down the deck both hoping each other would be safe and deck side, when we looked at each other we both burst out laughing, Of course you're “clipped on” so will always land on the inside...what a trip! You will think you're done, exhausted, every muscle in your body worked to its maximum, you have nothing left to give, then you hear the shout drop the staysail, reef the main or hoist the the Yankee and somewhere you have to find the strength to do it all over again.

Helming this yacht in heavy seas is so hard. At times it is a constant battle to control, it is genuinely like fighting with a sumo wrestler. It's exhausting, a constant battle, a constant fight to control the boat. Helming in the pitch black with no horizon or focal point of reference is like being in a fast action computer game. It's as exhilarating as it is equally terrifying, and I love it. Thank you to Matt and Damien who have given me the confidence to helm this, what feels like a monster they call a yacht. It is certainly very very different to helming a 45-foot pleasure yacht in the Medway and the inshore waters of Spain.

Under these conditions there is a constant stream of maintenance tasks and repairs. Currently we have 2 spinnakers that are ripped and unusable, which affects our ability to sail fast in lighter and moderate winds. We have limited ability to use the Yankee sails, which also affects our ability to sail fast and in the right direction. It sometimes seems as though everything conspires against you, one minute you are doing well and catching the fleet then bang something breaks and you working out a solution to overcome the problem. At the time of starting this blog it felt like doom and gloom, we ripped a spinnaker from top to bottom and had to slow down, it's going to take 3 to 4 days to repair on the boat, if in fact it can even be repaired; then Simon just told me we are back up to speed achieving 16 knots on course in the last hour. It cheers you to know that we sorted a work-around to the current problem and are again speeding towards Australia.

One thing I have noticed is the crew never blame each other when mistakes happen, never hold a grudge, it seems and I think we all realise and accept it may be our turn next. It's a brilliant crew here on Nasdaq and even though we know we are disadvantaged with the damages we have sustained we will all do our best to get this boat to Australia as quickly as possible, if for no other reason to hurry a well-earned drink.

There's so much more to say but I am out of time, I wanted to thank Alex for her assistance in contacting my family, she's a star and I will always be grateful. Also to Damien and Matt for sharing their skills with me.

The real question is “Would I do this again?”

I think I just might.