Race 6 - Day 2
Crew Diary - Race 6 - Day 2
24 January
January detox with a difference
As with most of the crew in the fleet, the WTC Logistics team enjoyed some fun nights with a few cold beers during the stopover in Airlie beach. This proved to be welcomed and much deserved down time for our round the worlders and a great opportunity for all Leg 5 crew to reunite! But as follows most periods of celebration, (and dare I say potential ‘over indulgence’), it was time for a detox. And a detox we got as we boarded Black Betty and focused on the race ahead.
Cold beers on hold until Sanya and a complete flushing out of our systems living in what can only be described as a floating sauna, combined with litres of water we are drinking*. Who needs a seaweed wrap or juice diet when you can join a leg of the Clipper Race for a January detox!
But back to what’s really important here. The race. It’s been five days since we left the marina and two days since we started racing. We’re all now pretty settled into boat life and working hard to remain focussed in these light wind conditions with occasional squall. Easier whilst we can still see some of the fleet, as this provides constant motivation to keep trimming the sails and improve our boat speed by any fraction that we can. But as Skip is regularly reminding us, this is a long game and trimming is a discipline that must stick if we want to hold our position or more importantly, make gains on our equally determined rivals – especially once we can no longer see them!
Above all, it’s been great getting to know Skip Rich over the last week. He came with high praise from our previous and much loved Skipper Mark and so there was little doubt he would be anything other than great. But our team is most definitely benefiting from Rich’s patience and commitment to continual coaching and upskilling – whilst most importantly doing it with a bit of fun! That being said, I do question his regular fashion advice, and having seen his rubber ducky shorts, wonder how he has become so qualified to give it! A great Skipper he may be – the next editor of Vogue he is not!
On that note, it’s time for me to get on with Mother duty and perhaps read a chapter of two of the sail trimming book! Or perhaps bake another cake...
So much love to my friends and family – especially the birthday gang of brother-in-law Tom, sister Clare, eldest nephew Barnaby, cousin George and special friends Lisa, Challie and Nadia xxx
Betty on Black Betty...out!
*a special thanks goes to the Clipper Race Maintenance team who experienced the sweatbox first hand, working around the clock to ensure every boat in the fleet had a fully functioning water maker before departure. We are very grateful