Race 4 - Day 32
Crew Diary - Race 4, Day 32
19 December
Prison Life and a Fish out of water
Tim Chappell (71)
Firstly to those who are interested – my WHY blog which was well received by Anna – we have a holiday booked in Porthleven for when I get back.
Porridge is a popular prison life series – recycled regularly on TV starring Ronnie Barker – Porridge has been a popular staple breakfast ingredient. Always soaked the night before and recently in Coconut Milk which has proved to be interesting. Granola, Cinnamon, Maple Syrup, sugar are the usual extras particularly now that there is no milk.
We are, so to speak, locked up in this sleek racing machine – all 20 of us having to tolerate each others idiosyncrasies. I have to admit to having two minor meltdowns when working in the galley as a Mother. Both due to perceived negative comments as a result of my Asperger’s Syndrome characteristics and as a result of their being too much human noise, which blocked my visual and hearing perceptions. Apologies! I actually think you all enjoyed it!
We are at the moment about 250 miles from Fremantle, whizzing along glistening churning seas that throw up the most marvellous fields of water into the air and sometimes over the crew! (Much to the laughter of those that were not soaked!) Fields of blue blanket us with a golden orb warming our hearts – it is also warming to know that we will be in Freo within the next 36 hours. I think that we have all had enough of nearly five weeks at sea, sailing around an extra circa 2,000 miles. Provisions are running low (good to use everything)! This adventure has done almost everything I wanted – losing my mind to find my soul – finding my character building blocks – developing a friendlier attitude. All a bit late in life, but better late than never. I have sailed in a racing yacht with 20 others with toleration (unfortunately only five days of racing). Seen whales, dolphins, flying fish, squids, Terns, Albatrosses, full starlight nights and so much more.
I am a total fish out of water on the boat, not fulfilling my contributory expectations realising that ocean sailing is not for me – but this is what I signed up for – self discovery and a proper challenge totally out of my comfort zone. As Sir Robin says: ‘If this challenge was easy everyone would do it’
Thank you to Anna, Tom, Alex, Emma, Elle, Dylan, Jacob, Jasmine, Henri, Anya and Eddie plus my many supporters for your Love, care and encouragement. UNICEF will greatly benefit.