Race 7 - Day 10
Crew Diary - Race 7, Day 10
04 March

Alexandra Rennard
Alexandra Rennard
Team Seattle
Back to Reports View Team Page

Hi everyone,I hope you're all well. Life here in our alternate Seattle universe is ticking along nicely, although we are now all very much looking forward to getting back to sunny Subic Bay and having a shower and a hair wash!

This race has been a nice change compared to the last, we've seen a lot more variation in terms of weather and sea state, so we've had the chance to do lots more sail evolutions and gain experience of different conditions which has kept us on our toes. It's been physically harder but probably mentally easier as the sailing has been more interesting. The team and watches seem to have gelled more this race, maybe because there's fewer of us or because more of us have a slightly better idea of what we're doing. Either way, it's been good.

The last two days in particular have been fun, we had some big-ish waves (about 27kts of true wind) and got to try our hand at a bit of surfing. It’s all a bit competitive, although eventually the competition seemed to turn into who could get the other members of crew the wettest! Dave in particular was out for revenge after I accidentally drenched both him and his only pair of shorts with a pretty spectacular wave when I was helming - oops! I only wish it had been caught on camera...

On a personal level, the spectre of Leg 6 is looming large, albeit we are still in the dark about what our route will be! I'm excited but apprehensive in equal measure. When we've had the odd few days of rough weather this race, it's made everything infinitely harder and I know that we've seen nothing like the conditions we're expected to face in the North Pacific. It seems to be more the day to day living that saps your energy in rougher weather, everyday tasks become much more tiring when you're heeled over and being slammed around. So it will be a challenge. But then that's why I signed up for it!

I asked my family to make me a boat playlists, so I could be reminded of home when I have a bit of downtime to listen to music, and it’s amazing, thanks! :) I've been listening to it when I'm in my bunk to try and drown out the sound of someone grinding a winch about 6 inches above my head. Also Jose, the ‘mutts nuts’ of head torches is living up to your promises (Petzl Actik Core, for anyone who's interested)

Better go, I'm on watch and I should probably be on deck taking my turn on the helm. Lots of love to everyone at home, speak to you soon.

P.S Peter and Helen - Melanie says to tell you she's still alive! She just has very stinky shoes (speaking both as a fellow stinky shoe owner and her fellow bunk mate)