Race 3 - Day 18
Crew Diary - Race 3 Day 18: Cape Town to Fremantle
18 November

Leg 3 is turning out to be a long one. We are 18 days into it and at least 7 more days to go. We are sailing fast in the right direction in a proper Southern Ocean. We’ve seen winds close to 50 knots and waves of 25 feet. We are constantly surfing down the waves with speeds over 20 knots. We’ve had our share of mishaps but everyone has been pulling together and working as a team. We are gearing up for the Ocean Sprint which we will enter into tomorrow.

Our estimated arrival date is late into American Thanksgiving weekend. Thinking about the annual holiday makes me feel very homesick. My wife came to Punta del Este and Cape Town stopovers. Spending time with the loved ones after long days at sea is always welcomed.

I am hoping we will arrive no later than Friday, November 24, which will still be Thanksgiving Thursday back home in Seattle. I could try to join my family for the traditional turkey and stuffing dinner over Skype. I really wish I was back home sitting together at the table, watching NFL football and playing flag football together. To be honest, this is the first Thanksgiving and, unfortunately Christmas as well, I will spend away from my family. This is hard. I wanted to sail around the world but the sacrifices are starting to hurt a lot. I know my crew mates will support me as we lean on each other in difficult time on the water or on shore. Being away from family for holidays makes me, and I am sure anybody, appreciate the relationships and memories we made together over the years. Only when one misses something one appreciates the value of it. There is nothing like family and home.