It’s day 25 of the race, and Zhuhai is only about 800 nautical miles away from Seattle. We have also started the Ocean Sprint. Looking back on the first day starting from Qingdao, it seems like everything happened yesterday. Family and friends saw us off at the marina, and I waved to them until the crowd looked as small as ants. From the start of the race up to now, we have experienced comfortable downwind sailing, 40-knot stormy weather, and challenging upwind sailing. The 45-degree life has made everyone feel a little tired. Fortunately, a few days after we crossed the International Date Line, Zhuhai yacht finally started sailing downwind, and a smooth yacht allowed everyone to regain their energy.
Since our Code 2 was damaged a few days ago, we can only sail alternately with Code 1 and 3 to adapt to different wind conditions. The current weather forecast looks like there will be a huge wind tunnel waiting for us as we approach the Finish Line, which is really not good news! You must know how painful it will be to see land just ahead but may be struggling sailing in swiftly after nearly a month’s sailing.
Let’s talk about something pleasant. The food on board Zhuhai is the best I have ever experienced. Almost every meal I eat now is very delicious. It may be that the high-intensity work on the boat has strengthened my appetite. Similarly, because the purchases for Leg 6 are all from Zhuhai and Qingdao, this is more in line with my Chinese taste. To my surprise, most of the crew members on the boat also liked chinese-style dishes, such as noodles, Laoganma, and hot pot base sauce, which were all very popular. There is a very good saying: Happy crew makes fast boat. Only when the crew eats well and sleeps soundly can Zhuhai run faster!
When I asked some of the RTW crew if the North Pacific leg was the toughest yet, they all nodded. There was also a period of time in the middle of the race when it was very difficult for me. Because of the sheer temperature difference between inside and outside, everything under deck was wet. And when you get on the deck, you have to withstand cold wind, rain and big waves. These are great challenges to our bodies. Physical challenges will also continue to hone your will, and many night watches can feel very long. Because of the cold weather, we took turns steering the yacht and trimming the sails on the deck every half hour. The most difficult thing for me is the watch from 3am to 7am in the morning. It is not easy to crawl out of the warm bed! Before departure I was very much looking forward to seeing some marine animals, but apart from seeing a pod of dolphins one night, I haven't spotted any other marine animals yet. Seabirds accompany us every day. They can still survive thousands of kilometres away from land, which only makes people marvel at the magic of nature.
There are still about four days of sailing time before the Finish Line, and I don't know how I will feel when I see land. This is my first transoceanic voyage and my first time living on a boat for a month. I believe the final answer will be revealed when Zhuhai docks in Seattle. Zhuhai, come on!