Race 1 - Day 3
Crew Diary - Race 1, Day 3
04 September

Well, here goes my first blog. The crew are all on excellent form and this morning, the day dawned and it was relatively warm and sunny. Up on deck, yellow appears to be the preferred colour – more to do with the sea state than a real desire to make a fashion statement. It has been a bit on the choppy side and most of us have been seasick at some point. One thing I would say about our limited wardrobes is how liberating it is to not have to think too much about what you are going to wear, and it’s amazing how quickly everyone gets dressed – partly this would be because some are so exhausted they actually don’t get undressed. There’s no doubt that we all relish the opportunity to get into our bunks for a few hours sleep. Bertrand and Yadi don’t even need their bunks and can be found in various places on deck snoozing peacefully. At night most of us gather in the relatively sheltered area next to the companionway, a bit like roosting birds. In the morning we gravitate to the high side like lemmings.

Last night dolphins and a submarine were spotted which was very exciting for those on watch. The food has been great and we have been treated to Thai green curry and a lamb tagine. Today we have George on mother watch – the focaccia has been made and he’s just finished the washing up. It’s amazing how even something as simple as washing a few dishes becomes a Herculean task when the boat is heeled over at 45 degrees.

Last night I managed to bump my nose on the grinder – luckily there are no mirrors on board and so I have no idea how bad it looks, but there is certainly a dent. On this watch I am the designated ‘swimmer’, this means that if we have a man overboard I am sent in to fetch them – obviously I am making sure that everyone is clipped on securely! I believe we have made good progress and all the crew are working hard to maintain our position near the top, or at the top of the leaderboard. The crew sends their love to all friends and family – look after yourselves and please check in tomorrow for another update from Qingdao.

Susan x