The first week of racing on Leg 7 for Zhuhai (pronounced as Ju Hai instead of Zu Hai) has been great. This is a happy boat with great team spirit as always. Big laughter on the deck, sometimes even louder than the sea lion on the Seattle pontoon.
The vessel took the lead position during the first two days then our leaders (James and Mike) made the decision to hit the Scoring Gate in the offshore direction. After a few complicated maneuverers which were a piece of cake for the veteran ‘Round the Worlders’ from Leg 1 to Leg 7 yet quite confusing and overwhelming for new crew, we hit the gate grabbing three points in our pocket. The cost was positioning ourselves into the last position. Then with two nights’ effort, we are now back up to third, chasing Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam, and Qingdao - may wind and waves not be in their favour.
The first week could be described as a milder and minor version of Leg 6, cold and challenging and still on the edge of the Pacific. All new crew have their own rite of passage on the journey - seasick, exhausted, and self-doubt of the sanity to join this activity, but while the wind gets bigger and bigger, they all miraculously recover to normal function instantly.
Several dolphins being spotted during the night look like silver torpedoes weaving in the fluorescent spots in the ocean. Stars are beautiful, and the Milky Way is stunning.
Sailing downwind in big waves feels like mounting a giant horse and climbing fluid hills. The way to the helm on these hills is to be “gentle and firm”, as the very appropriate metaphor from the skipper goes.
During the day, there are small jellyfish “blue bubbles” everywhere as if the ocean has its own pox. The next few weeks will be sweating hot, the crew members might have tiny rashes on their bodies too so in that sense mother nature and human beings are in one.
Anyway, we eat well, sleep well, are a little bit tired, happy and work in harmony. Looking forward to Panama.