Race 3 - Day 20
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 20: Cape Town to Fremantle
20 November
It's a truly lovely day on deck today. The sun is out, it's warmed up a lot and we are flying our spinnaker after a few days of big seas and squalls kept us in whites. I love watching the faces of the guys at the helm. The size of the grin when they surf a big wave is immeasurable. Not something I can do myself (yet) but I do get a sense of what it must feel like.
The lovely weather has also given the crew a bit of a mood lift after we grappled with the terrible news from the Race Office about Simon. From the first wave of heart-wrenching sympathy, somehow these things bring us closer together. We find we have friends we can talk to, we have candid conversations about our own death and we feel a sense of communion with the entire flight.
And by now we're all getting used to using two tethers and everything that goes with it. Like not having enough tethers during watch changes, tether swapping rituals and new rules around where they belong in any given circumstance. But if we can master one, why not two … we are after all the clipperatti!
My favourite person on board has to be Mike Sweet, our infirmary patient. We were all very jealous of his meds after finding him singing at the top of his voice in the corner but then we realised he's Welsh. He always has the biggest smile on his face (again, apparently not his meds), teases the boys, cracks jokes and has been very reassuring and sweet to the nervous flyers like me. He even offered some of the chocolate he slept on but sadly won't share his meds. I'm amazed at his contribution to the entire team without being able to do any sailing at all. What a guy!
I did two airshows for my team this week. One across the deck during a sail change and another from the top bunk in the en-suite bedroom straight in the heads landing with my arm in the toilet bowl. I tried to sell tickets but it didn't work, I think my first mistake was trying to sell them retrospecively but apparently the distances travelled didn't cut the cloth. I need to fly further than all the way across the sail locker, which is the previous record. Happy to concede this one at this time.
Everybody is really looking forward to getting to Fremantle. We have lots of conversations about what luxury will take priority when we get to land. Shower first or a beer? Ice cream or cappuccino? A big green salad or a plate of chips? Whatever it is, we've past the 1000nm remaining mark so not long now.
Amancio and Jakes have just served the most delicious meal which went down very well after our pre-lunch woolling session thanks to a twist in the kite. She's back in the air and we're flying along again.
To my family and friends, you are in my thoughts every moment. Love and miss you all and thanks for all the fish.
Tot siens,
Lee