Race 13 - Day 5
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry to Liverpool
26 July

It came suddenly: that awful feeling of being cast down into a pit of putrid slimy worms, that cold sweat, the eye watering, cramp inducing, breath taking purge that is seasickness. Debilitated and wretched I held onto my bucket for dear life, gasping between the spasms and uttering words that atheists usually avoid.

Not across the entire span of the mighty Atlantic had I felt the slightest trace of that sailors bane, but now half a day into the Emerald Isles fair waters, after a phenomenal start, sweating the staysail, the yankee and working the grinder with Karl for a series of inspiring tacks, it struck. The Irish Ogre: brutish, thuggish waters that relentlessly bash the ship. We continued beating up dark seas in murky conditions.

My descent was quick, I went from powerhouse to quivering deadweight in a matter of minutes. I vomited at the foot of the grinders pedestal as the wind and rain lashed about me, continuing to grind each time the order came.

When a manoever is taking place, team work is paramount and any one person not doing their job properly can jeopardize the entire ship, so sickening as it was I continued as long as the task lasted. It was only after the task had been completed that I asked for relief.

The whole night we sailed heeled over at 45 degrees, I took a plastic bag to my bunk and let the sickness run its course....

The next morning I was on mother watch and I was truly relieved when Minghao our ships media crew volunteered to step in on my behalf. I realize that when you are sick the smallest kindness can bring tears of gratitude to your eyes. Likewise, callous laughter and snide remarks are enough to make the blood boil.

I didn’t eat for 2 days, though I drank lots of water. Despite the relentless effort required to function normally I rose to the task, aiding the execution of tacking and putting in, shaking out reefs, all during a force 6 gale.

This race has taught me a thing or two about fortitude and the will to knuckle down in the face of adversity. I am stronger for it and grateful that it tested my mettle. However, no relapses please, being seasick is just not fun.