It turns out Christmas on a boat is remarkably similar to Christmas at home. Genuinely delicious food, great company, mince pies, not one but TWO visits from Santa and way too many people than should be allowed in a space this size. If someone shouts GRIND at me next Christmas it’ll be just like being back onboard Qingdao.
Our first visit from Santa came on Christmas Eve, starting his epic nights work early. In lieu of a chimney he actually popped out of the sail locker. How long he’d been stowed in there no-one knows.
Christmas morning started with waking up in my coffin bunk around 5am with three inches of headroom. I managed to scramble around to grab my dry bag containing a card from my girlfriend and a gift from my parents. After opening the card (and a few inevitable tears) and present (Hemingway’s The Old Man & The Sea) I headed to the galley for Christmas brekkie of fruit with yoghurt and muesli, and scrambled eggs with freshly baked bread.
The 6 hour Christmas Day watch was spent in a wind hole. While we would have preferred some wind, it at least gave our chefs some calm conditions to cook up a wonderful lunch, and allowed us on watch to enjoy a more relaxed day. After lunch (pork, roast potatoes, red cabbage & green beans followed by bread & butter pudding) we got a surprising second visit from Santa, distributing Secret Santa gifts to the crew. And then 6 hours to chill before another watch from 6-10pm. I tried to call my parents with no luck (sorry Mum & Dad!) but managed a brief but difficult conversation with my girlfriend, soundtracked by the grinding on deck as the wind had got up by now. And then bed, ready for another watch at 2am.
A belated Merry Christmas to my incredible girlfriend, my family and friends. Sending love to you all, I miss you.
Long Gui Dahai.