Race 5 - Day 15
Crew Diary - Race 5 - Day 15
06 January
Waiting for the dawn
This is the third of my three legs, so I thought it was about time I wrote a blog! On this leg, I am on ‘Sanya’ watch which comprises Rick (watch leader), Bruce, Dave, Chris, Su and myself. One of our two on deck watches is between 1600-2000 UTC, which at present sailing up the east coast of Australia means we go on deck in the dark at 0200 local time. Not so bad if the stars are out (we have had some spectacular skies since I left Uruguay in mid-October), but the past few nights it has been cloudy, which means it is very very dark on deck! Watching the dawn appear ever so gradually and somehow peacefully, has been such a privilege to witness in some of the most remote areas of our planet.
Our four hour watches vary from being quite ‘relaxed!’, ie. if we are not helming or looking after the main sheet, we sit in the (not very comfortable, jauntily angled!) cockpit, dodging waves which at times break over us leaving us waist-deep in water of varying temperatures. A busy watch will include sail changes, reefing, tacking or gybing, and occasionally two or three of the above! All of these ‘evolutions’ require additional crew from the support watch to help get the job done.
My Clipper Racejourney has been a roller coaster of epic proportions. The SAS selection process is widely regarded ‘like no other’. I can’t comment directly on this of course, but what I can say is living on, racing and sailing a 70’ yacht through South Atlantic and Southern Ocean storms certainly tests you to the limit. Even the most basic of tasks below deck (such as cleaning your teeth) is a major activity requiring considerable physical and mental effort, not least to keep your balance in a very small space with lots of hard edges (the heads/toilet!). However, it has been amazing to watch the graceful albatrosses (‘my Albert’!), and helm (steer) the good ship Visit Sanya, China in a variety of conditions, and live and work with a truly global team as we take part in the Clipper 2019-2020 Race.