Race 4 - Day 20
Crew Diary - Race 4, Day 20
07 December

Neil Ashurst
Neil Ashurst
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Almost There

Well here we are just 300 miles or so from Fremantle, the mood on the boat has changed with the weather, the sun is shining and the wind is behind us and we are barrelling along with our smallest Code 3 Spinnaker up trying to chase down GoToBermuda for a fourth place finish, it could be possible if we push and maintain our attention. Get it wrong and the boat will swing right round on itself, broaching, spinnaker flogging violently shaking the boat right through to its keel, the boat stops in the water and we wait for the spinnaker to refill with a tremendous crack, tearing at the sheets and halyards, each time this happens it weakens the stitching taking days off the life of the sail, and probably off the Skipper. These sails need to last another eight months at least, so does the Skipper! Rip the sails and hours are lost, sail repair on board can take days. We have been lucky so far and have sailed a conservative race, sail damage has been minimal, Lawrence our expert sail repairer has dealt with any problems very swiftly.

But now the end is in sight we feel we can push, but talk on board is of beer and showers, what we have to do in port, deep clean, repairs and packing up. Just at present, we are going through the food cupboards, Australia is very strict on what we can take in, so packets of pasta, spices, seeds, bread mix, meats are all having their fate decided. Eat now, seal up or dispose of. The trip has been a swift one so we have extra meals available, we will eat well this evening.

My own thoughts are mixed, it has been a great trip, learnt loads seen the remoteness and wonderful landscape of the Southern Ocean, the wildlife and the clarity of the water and air are wonderful to experience. I have met and worked as a team with some wonderful people and we have all been part of that Clipper Race experience, some brave souls to carry on their own adventure, I have huge admiration for those who have committed to the whole round the world experience, their commitment in time alone is impressive but this is a hard environment, living in close quarters, sleep deprived, sometimes injured, which makes dealing with everyday issues a real challenge. Of course, the Skipper Mark and AQP Dan are impressive characters, taking responsibilities to deliver a safe, competitive and happy ship are huge challenges, especially to do this over the preparation time and the entire race. But I also have a real respect for the watch leaders Kaz and Rachel, they are asked to take on a role to manage each watch, making sure everyone gets out of the experience what they want and yet make sure the boat goes well and we are all safe, it's a big ask and they’ve done a fantastic job, I hope they get what they need, they’ve paid for this too.

So Thank you again to all at home who allowed me the time to do this trip, my family and friends and colleagues at work, thank you to you all for the generous donations to Unicef.

Thank you to all my fellow crew for helping me, guiding me and putting up with me.

Now the end is close for my small adventure has it been worth it? Absolutely, am I ready to leave the boat? Probably, could I stay for more? Definitely, but I’m ready to move on, my memory bank is stocked up and bucket list is ticked.

I better go, there are still a few more hours and days to soak up.