Race 14 - Day 3
Crew Diary - Race 14 Day 3
23 July
As the circle comes to full completion for me it is a mixed bag. Excitement to see my family and friends, impatience to get to the Race Finish where my mum and brother will be waiting. I haven’t seen her since Race Start and my brother Fergal even longer.
It is 6 am in the morning, and on standby, the smell of bread is circling the boat. Close to the end but feels like another day, another watch, cook, clean, empty bilges. On deck, trim sails, hoist new ones, drop old ones, down to the bunk, sleep, repeat. This has been our lives for the last 11 months. On paper this looks monotonous, a daily grind in a small compact space….. less than monotonous it has been.
We have seen night skies with more stars than the eyes can take in, sunrises that awaken even the most tired of souls, sunsets some with green flashes, the rest just peaceful and serene. Nights so dark you cannot see the nose of your boat, rain so heavy and strong you duck your head and squint the only part exposed to the elements. Temperatures so cold no matter how many layers, you still think your fingers and toes are going to fall off, brain freeze as the waves come crashing into the cockpit, switching to temperatures so hot you are not sure if you are being fried or slowly oven roasted, relief short-lived by squalls passing by. Turtles, dolphins, sharks, jellyfish, whales, birds, flying fish, jumping squid. Waves rising like mountains behind, surfing these monsters, speeds getting faster and faster, seas of turquoise, bioluminescence turning the boat and anyone on deck into a disco ball. Challenging storms, battling wind holes. The excitement at seeing another boat on the horizon reminds us we are not alone in this world. Hunting the boat in front of us, being hunted by the boat behind. Crossing finishing lines some joyous, some disappointment all bring a sense of achievement and the calling of rest for tired bodies and weary minds. Even below decks, we have had culinary victories and disasters. Together we have travelled the world to places some people can only dream of. There is also a sadness after those that I have spent this life-changing experience, strangers crammed into a tiny living space, working together. They have been the source of support, life lessons, sailing, encouragement, laughter, and more great times than bad, an unspoken bond has been formed but soon we will be divided by hundreds of miles.
As we return to where it all began, 60 plus people, over 11 bodies of water, and well into the 40,000 nautical miles the boat completes the full circumnavigation. I say the boat because while eight of us (six circumnavigators, Max and Tom) have sailed with her, those that joined for legs or multiple legs may physically have left the boat, but still remain on board, through our stories and lessons. So it is with a heavy heart that I say thank you for the best year of my life. It has been an honour and privilege to have sailed with you guys. I wish all of you the best, this is not goodbye, never goodbye but see you later. We together have made it.