Race 7 - Day 8
Crew Diary - Recollections of a Single Mother
02 March
I have now passed the halfway point on my journey round the world so it is a good time to step back and consider some of the highlights of the experience for me to date. But first I would like to wish my niece Rebecca a slightly belated (29 February) very happy 36th birthday. Having done that let’s look at the journey so far, a race at a time:
Race 1 – A rude and stormy opening race as we crossed the English Channel and Bay of Biscay. The first painful reminder of the need to hold on at all times especially below deck when the boat is healing steeply over. Fabulous creamy ice cream in Portimao – Portugal, setting the bar really high.
Race 2 – My first crossing of the equator and a visit to the Court of King Neptune to graduate from a filthy Pollywog to an esteemed Shellback. An unexpected visitation from Dad (see earlier blog). My first sighting of the Southern Cross and a quicker than anticipated journey through the doldrums. A race for 4th or 3rd place thwarted by a hurricane force gust shredding the leach of our mainsail – damnation!! A great welcome from the people of Punta del Este and their yacht club. A fabulous barbeque and pretty good ice cream.
Race 3 – Leading the race before we broached putting the boat on its side and resulting in a kitemare which took 14 hours to unravel. Race lost but morale not diminished. A painful lesson for some – a freak wave can appear at anytime, sit down and clip on behind. Sailing through the ‘eye of the storm’ in complete silence, flat calm seas and bright sunshine. The majesty of the ocean at daybreak, awesome watery canyons and majestic albatros never to be forgotten. Limping last into Cape Town with our wounded to an early morning welcome from my friends Paul and Anne. Pretty standard ice cream at the fabulous V&A Harbour Mall.
Race 4 – The Southern Ocean Sleigh Ride fading into virtual insignificance, can you believe it? After our experience of the South Atlantic on Race 3. A breaching whale and stacks of friendly dolphins. The surreal moment when I first sighted Australia and realised that we had sailed to the other side of the world in a 70 foot boat. Pasties and pies in Oz - proper food at last. A good long break in Fremantle – an excellent hospitality at their yacht club. A visit to and cycle around Rottnest Island followed by an evening carol service in 60 degree heat. Is this really Christmas? Pretty good ice cream.
Race 5 – Christmas at sea enjoyed by all and a visit from Secret Santa. A day of semi-rest, good food and company. Celebrating New Year’s Eve off the coast Tasmania and a quiet, early night. Orange skies, the best sunset I have ever seen but the distressing sight of ash raining down on us and the ocean from Australia’s bushfires. Airlie Beach and a flight over the Great Barrier Reef. Wendo joins the team to lead us forward.
Race 6 – An early lead but first into the doldrums and last out – well it was good while it lasted! Second crossing of the equator – becoming an old hand at this! Seeing others suffer at the hand of King Neptune – very enjoyable. The disappointment of not being able to go to China and being re-routed to Subic Bay in the Philippines.
Race 7 – A Subic Bay to Subic Bay Race made possible for us by Iona, Sandra, Mary and Andrew temporarily joining the team – welcome to ‘Kevin’ and thanks from all of her remaining seven crew plus Wendo and James. The joy of coming off the 2am to 6am watch and four hours of grinding, looking forward to a six hour rest, only to be told that I needed to be up at 9.30am to be mother for the day and as we are short crew I would be on my own – a ‘single mother’ for the next 24 hours. Not my favourite task but knocked together a passable four bean coleslaw lunch with beetroot and a very enjoyable, I am told, fried rice dinner. Wendo loves both beetroot and fried rice so a few brownie points earned there! Surfing at 22.6 knots with the Code 3 kite up this morning – exhilarating to say the least.
The race so far has not been without its trials and tribulations but it is now six months and one day since we set off from London and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Plus I have enjoyed some pretty good ice cream – my favourite food you may have guessed by now!
Love to Julie T, family and friends I am missing you all but only five months now until I get home.
Trevor.