Race 15 - Day 3
Crew Diary - The Waist of Your Life
26 July
Our extensive stopover in Derry~Londonderry has now come to an end and is but a distant memory as we bounce (literally!) north on our return to London via the scenic route of the Outer Hebrides and the Pentland Firth. It is reminiscent of the North Pacific, except warmer, but my ability to handle the seasickness and move around the boat whilst it is on its side has made me realise just how far I have come since embarking on this adventure in February.
My fitness and agility have improved and like many of the crew, several kilos have been lost. The Clipper Weight Loss Program® is not often mentioned, but is an exclusive club. To misquote Carlsberg, it is probably the most expensive weight loss programme in the world. Whilst its principles bear similarities to many other programmes, the necessary calorie deficit is achieved not by reducing intake, but by inducing a significant expenditure over a sustained period.
The controls are fairly niche but here I will attempt to provide some activities that you can do at home that will enable you to replicate similar conditions:
-Wear one flat shoe and one with an eight inch heel to get a feel for living at an angle. Swap the heel to the other foot every hour to replicate changing from a port to starboard tack.
-When moving around your home, use the most direct route especially if this is obstructed by furniture. Climb over sofas and crawl under chairs and tables to mimic moving around the boat. If there is a wet puddle to crawl through, all the better.
-Sleep in bunk beds, particularly the top one. Remove the ladder.
-Tether yourself to a large object and drag it around with you any time the wind is above 15 knots and during night-time hours.
-Put your toilet on a gimbal and swap your toilet flush for a temperamental pump mechanism that takes at least 30 pumps to clear.
-Clean your toilet every ‘watch’ and work your biceps by lobbing the waste bag as far downwind as possible.
-Use a rope ladder arrangement to access your kitchen cupboards.
-Turn off all your heating and open all the windows, particularly in winter. You will expend energy just trying to keep warm; the higher the wind chill factor the better.
-In summer, keep all doors and windows closed with your heating on full to get on a full sweat. Enhance this by trying to sleep in the same conditions. Lying, marinating in your own juices is not conducive to a sound sleep, so expect to burn more energy trying to keep awake for a full ‘watch.’
-Switch to living in ‘watches’ of 4 or 6 hours; 6 hours on, 6 hours off between 0700 and 1900, 4 hours on, 4 hours off between 1900 and 0700. This takes Nana naps to a new level.
Although this is an unconventional program, its results are proven. Best of luck on your progress!