Race 2 - Day 12
Crew Diary - Race 2 Day 12: Punta del Este to Cape Town
16 October
The more the merrier, the fewer the racier
by Philip Haucke
Since our spectacular departure from Punta del Este, this stunning Stormhoek Race to the Cape of Storms has been a treat with various vicious conditions to verify the substantial strength of our superb Seattle-Sounders-Sonics crew. While more and more crew members merry on the tough duties below deck to treat their bad bruises and some consistent coughs and colds, the fewer on deck race with short handed watches, down to a rotating crew of six on deck. Racing headsail changes and fast evolutions become a challenge, regardless of wind conditions or sea-state. Not only on muscle but more on the task of a Tetris-like masterplan to split the sequences to every hand and single finger available to juggle powered sheets, hoisting halyards and manage lazy lines in every single bearing of the pit. Most of us wish for another pair of hands and additional winches. One for the body – two for the mind.
But the strength really plays out quite well on both ends, as the support for each other amongst the crew has become even stronger of the last couple of days. The joy to cope with a Y1 mid-foredeck flake in 25kts of winds with a crew of four Sounders or a Code 2 drop in gusts of 27kts with a crew of three in the pit, puts a smile on our faces while our bodies ace to get another short two hours of sleep before its time to do it all over again. Not to mention our most memorable day and night just twenty-four hours ago when we where surfing the South-Atlantic waves with 23.4 kts on the helm, following a complete main sail drop in gusting 40kts of wind to repair a batten and a snapped Reef 3, while still sailing with 12kts on just a staysail. But that's a different story.
Hooo-raaaaw! Just passed the Zero Degree Meridian. What a perfect resemblance of our race routine! Let's reset and get started all over again. Life is a bliss, but this race is so much more. In every respect, on every angle, on either tack... It's every sailors dream come true for some extra “Seemansgarn” and tales to tell. Too bad we will be in Cape Town just in about 4-5 days to finish this leg. I will call for an all hands on deck every once in a while when back in Berlin and wish it was the faces of the Seattle Sounders & Sonics that will show up to get serious s**t done with some much endurance!
Awesome crew! Go Visit Seattle and Team Nikki!