Race 10 - Day 7
Crew Diary - Race 10 Day 7
10 April
PSP Logistics’ crew blogs have covered a range of themes; sounds aboard CV29; life without the internet; galley gastronomy; and ocean-inspired poetry to mention a few.
But what about kit? A topic that dominates conversation pre and post Race Start. After 7+ months of ocean racing, what do we now know matters most?
Looking at which in-demand items have worked their way through the hands of several PSP Logistics crew reveals some interesting insights...
Every crew member considered the Clipper Race recommended kit list and what harsh conditions their chosen leg(s) would involve on deck. But the football-formation-sounding 6-6-4-4-4 watch system aboard PSP Logistics means that during a 48-hour cycle, we are actually asleep (or at least off watch) half of the time! Therefore perhaps it is no surprise that ocean sleeping bags and pillows top the list of most hand-me-downed items.
Kate’s (Legs 1 & 2) ocean sleeping bag passed through to Reece (Leg 4) to its current owner, Hoff (Legs 1,2,5,6). Whilst Sarah’s (Leg 1) somewhat glutinous decision ;) to pack not one but TWO waterproof hospital-style pillows is a call that Tom and Jess (RTWs) now benefit from.
Hoff now lays sometimes alarmingly dead to the world on Brian’s (Legs 3-6) pillow, Andrew (RTW) resides off-watch in Henry’s (Leg 2) sleeping bag, and Lottie (AQP) has Jenny’s (Leg 4) pillow – probably on her spare bunk to maintain that “busy and occupied” look.
Next on the in-demand list? Keeping hands warm. Until Lorenzo (RTW) is ready to reveal to the world his much-touted “Le Glove” and “Le Boot” brands, I’m afraid we are yet to find the perfect answer to keeping hands simultaneously dry and useful. So Lorenzo is now making do with Brian’s gloves, Lottie with Sue’s (Leg 3) hand warmers, and Andrew with Louis’ (Leg 3) gloves.
It’s not all about keeping warm though. Nadia’s (Leg 5) fan continues to cool Mark (RTW) on hotter nights when accommodation hatches must remain closed for fear of rogue waves and near-drowning in bed!
And Sue’s old RNLI “helming helmet” (try saying that clearly whilst shouting into 60 knots of wind!) was left behind for the whole crew to protect our brains on more bumpy nights.
Nor is it all about donations. Enterprising would-be-contestant on The Apprentice, Alex (Legs 1-3), sold to Tom his high-value items for a fair penny, including a helmet, sleeping bag, and migraine-inducing super torch.
Dianne (RTW), PSP Logistics' undisputed sustainability champion, is recycling two pairs of gloves, a hat, a pillow, and a long-sleeve top from unclaimed lost property (aka the upper middle cave hole in the starboard saloon). So given where she found them, we can probably conclude that – with the exception of the pillow that was Peter’s (leg 5) – in some way or another they are in fact an involuntary hand-me-down from Lorenzo.
Where do we put all this additional kit? Never fear, because as ever Lisa (legs 5-8) has thought of an answer for that: Nadia’s no-longer-required dry bag!
Like in any family, hand-me-downs warmly remind us of those who used them first. And there is something sentimental about taking with us around the world a part of those who joined us and added so much to this unique experience, before sadly moving on.
And what about your author? Well, before recently leaving the crew due to injury, Brian regaled to me a funny story about how, as he openly discussed his hard decision to head home, Jess had already begun making informal enquiries about his rather cozy-looking hat. Jess, has form in the kit vulture gaming, having even pecked the mid layers from the body of a crew member on another boat!
However, as Brian told me about Jess’ humorous antics whilst I was on the helm, I was wearing Henry’s life jacket pouch, which he had left to Lorenzo, who had in turn loaned it to me on a short-term one-race contract. Keen to source another pouch for myself, I spied an opportunity. As I turned to face Brian and compliment him on his funny tale, I took a sneak peek out of the corner of my eye at his very own life jacket pouch and was beholden by the beauty of it. Barely worn, with minimal UV or salt damage, and stitching all still in place, it glimmered in the shadow of his armpit. And it was at that moment that I knew it must be mine.
It now is. So, thank you, Brian!
N.B. to non-Leg 6 crew: sorry if I missed anyone's kind kit donations, they’re all much appreciated :)