Race 6 - Day 15
Crew Diary - BALLAST
06 February
Before writing this, I did a quick read of the other CV28 Race 6 crew blogs. We don’t get regular opportunities to read what crew mates write. To read the crew blogs, I had to get the media laptop, find the folder, and then open the files and read them. There were a few blogs about wind holes and the intense heat of the tropics. I don’t want to bore readers with another blog about the intense heat of the tropics or finding another wind hole, but I also want to provide some continuity for regular readers of CV28 crew blogs. This blog continues a basic theme: What do you do in the middle of the ocean on a 70-foot sailboat when it’s really hot and there isn’t any wind?
One of the things you do is talk...talk, talk, talk, talk, talk...about any topic! Over the last two weeks, Skipper Wendo has talked with us about the importance of properly positioning weight to best help the boat go fast. I won’t discuss the specifics as it could reveal some information that gives us a competitive advantage. Yes, ‘competitive advantage’ is intended as humor (or ‘humour’ for all of you who like using more letters than necessary to spell words) as we have hardly been competitive. That’s not a knock on anyone, it’s just a fact. As of today, our focus on weight distribution is one indication of our desire to improve our competitiveness. Weight distribution includes where we sit.
Essentially, when we’re not actively doing something, we go to a place where our weight helps the boat; we become ballast. My on-board nicknames of Big Chris or Big Tuna attest to the distinction I have of being the heaviest member of the crew; I am prime ballast. In fact, there was at least one instance recently when I was asked to stop tidying up in the cockpit and to go sit in a specific location in my role as prime ballast to help the boat go.
I wasn’t the least bit offended by the request, but it got me started on some self-deprecating humor (ok, humour). I was lamenting that my days trimming sails or helming were ending, which would be sad as I enjoy both. I would do nothing except moving to position myself optimally for boat speed.
As a testament to true teamwork, several crew mates came to my rescue and extolled the virtues of ballast. Crew mate Ina (Leadership and Teamwork Development Consultant and onboard part-time philosopher) shared with me the importance of ballast in life: it keeps us grounded and steady. Former banker Simon equated ballast to capital deployment in business: move capital where it helps best. Then there is always Wendo’s voice in the background, “weight distribution helps the boat go fast and this is, after all, a race!”
If my role as prime ballast is so important, why not exploit it to avoid a few unpleasant tasks? Now, I was on to something, so I started scheming. How can I avoid the unpleasant tasks of spinnaker packing, cooking, or cleaning the heads in the hot, humid, and stagnant environment below deck without alienating my crew mates? Even better, could I possibly get a crew mate to advocate this for me?
I haven’t yet come up with an idea on how to accomplish this; and honestly, my conscience won’t allow me. So I’m off now to clean the heads, followed by mother duty (cooking and cleaning) tomorrow. I won’t have to clean the heads or wool spinnakers while on mother duty, so at least I have that going for me. I also won’t get much time sailing, either. Oh well, such is the routine of life, even as prime ballast, on the good ship Zhuhai.
So long for now from the entire crew.
Chris