Race 2 - Day 6
Crew Diary - Race 2 Day 6
21 September

Highlights of the race… so far!

Every day at ‘happy hour’ we get an update from our Skipper on how we are doing in the race and then entertainment led by two bunk buddies. So far for instance we have had Spanish and yoga lessons, singing and dancing. Yesterday was Kati and mine’s turn and we asked each person what had been the highlight of the race so far for them.

For Guernsey Nige and Aloysio it was the excitement of Race Start. For George, Kati, Andres and David it was time at the helm. For George it was racing away from race start with all the other boats close by, for Kati helming at night with the Code 2 flying. For Andres it was coaching me on the helm as we approached the Canary Islands in some tricky winds (thank you Andres).

Luis and our onboard reporter Cherie quoted happy hour as their highlight and other more general highlights came from Jesus who was happy that we were all getting along and Raul was happy that nobody was getting sick! For others it has been the environment and the wildlife. Jeronimo loved that we are sailing through African waters and thoughts of the lands that we are passing. Graham was enjoying the birds that we have seen and our course our regular visits from dolphins while Dario enjoyed a more personal visit from a flying fish that flew straight over his and Ryan’s heads when he was helming last night. Tono’s ‘stars at night’ sessions have become legendary and Antonio names these as his highlight.

For some it has been the opportunity for more personal reflection. For Vince this is the realisation of a childhood dream and for Clara, one of our circumnavigators, it is coming to terms with the fact that she will not see close friends for almost a year.

Also, I must not forget Ryan’s joy at Tono’s ‘John Wayning’ of the active spinnaker line on a jibe, Mary’s delight at watching Nige do yoga and Anne’s introduction to Dulce de Leche with the discovery of a stash under Jeronimo’s bunk – a gift from our friends at the Yacht Club Punta del Este which he had been saving for the Doldrums.

For me it was lying on our yellow bean bag trimming the spinnaker at sunset and realising right now there is nowhere else I would rather be.