Race 3 - Day 14
Skipper Report
14 November
The Code 2 (mediumweight spinnaker) is up and we are storming down swells at up to 20 knots again. I forgot how much the kite brings out the alpha male in the helmers. Their game face is on and this is exactly what they came here to do, surf down waves at ridiculous speeds with the kite up and have me constantly and quite literally on the edge of my seat.
This morning I found another grey hair and, unfortunately, I'm well aware that I don't have the dashing looks of Richard Gere or even Lance Shepherd from Liverpool 2018 to go with it. Maybe I should take the Bob Beggs Unicef approach - he still has an element of mousy Brown to his locks and that’s after military service and two-and-a-half Clipper Races.
We have decided that Pip O'Sullivan and Hugh Bevan, when in their red waterproofs - hoods up, snood and hat on with glasses poking out of the front - look like the same person. Whether Hugh looks like Pip or Pip looks like Hugh is yet to be decided. It's a good job they are on different watches really. Pip’s reaction to this was 'so what you’re saying is that I look like a middle-aged man? Thanks.' And I probably shouldn't repeat Hugh's response in front of the kids.
We started off our day at midnight local as always, it was watch change and we had decorated the galley with balloons and bunting supplied by Tessa HIcks' kids for her birthday. As Tessa walked out at 11:40 those in the crew mess proceeded to sing Happy Birthday. Not only were we 20 minutes early but in fact one day and 20 minutes early. Tessa was very happy that it was not yet her special day and she could be, dare I say it without getting a slap, 59 for one more day. It's easy to lose track of days, time and date at sea. Every day is a Sunday, every day is a Monday.
Simon Speirs caressed the sewing machine back into life last night by methodically lubricating all of its moving parts ready for Fremantle. Fingers crossed we are not going to need it too much. However, given the way the keyboard just flew across the Nav Station I'm not too sure about that. I'm now typing as an old person would - hitting the letters as hard as possible as most of them have now been crushed into the plastic.
We're not complaining about this wind though - the sleigh ride has finally begun!
Wendo - I hear ya on the board shorts and Santa hat Christmas day and feel culturally enlightened at the prospect of eating prawns and not shrimps. Good bit of Aussie trivia there!!
Dale - I'm definitely keen for a hit in Freemantle although like the helming at times it may not be in the right direction.
Rob - I smashed your T-rex score (It's all about a quick index finger)
Let Peace Be the Journey
Ciao for now.
Andy and the GREAT Britain team