Race 1 - Day 26
Crew Diary - Race 1 Day 26: Liverpool to Punta del Este
15 September
Watch 1400 to 2000
The last couple of days where quite interesting with high enough temperatures and sun to wear shorts and a t-shirt but due to the sea state - about 3 metre waves occasionally splashing over the deck - you have a choice; get wet and dry in the warm wind and sun or wear salopettes and a jacket. This time, in my opinion, the sea state was calm enough to go with waterproof trousers and a t-shirt but later on I was proven wrong. I positioned myself sitting on the deck beside the helm on the windward side and for the first half hour I was just fine with only some small splatter able to reach me. But suddenly there it was, perfectly aligned with the side of the boat, the wave that changed the moment - I felt a small bump against the boat and seconds later a wall of water in front of me. The helmsman and I were completely soaked and the rest of the crew in the pit were just fine without a drop on them and laughing. So, there I was standing behind the helm on the aft sun deck holding on with 2 hands (boat at 45 degrees and bumpy waves) with my trousers down drying my underwear in the nice warm wind and sun. Waterproof trousers are not waterproof around the waist I just found out.
We were also playing the reefing game with all the squalls around us. The squalls could easily change the wind from a steady 15-20 knots to more than 35 knots that only lasts for about 15-30 minutes. So, the moment you are done with the reef it is already time to shake it out because the boat speed started dropping. Later that evening when I was helming in the dark another squall came in with 35 knots of wind - I almost lost control over the boat for a few seconds because of too much sail.
Aan familie en frienden: Een hand vol crew leden merkt regelmaitg op dat ik altijd vrolijk ben. Helemaal als je de blog van gisteren leest over het leven aan boord, alles wat je doet kost drie keer zo veel tijd en moeite. Mijn antwoord aan hun is dit is wat het leven op zee inhoud dit is waar ik mij voor heb ingeschreven, sturend met 10 tot 14 knopen boot snelheid stuiterend op en neer over de golven is waar ik van houd! Tot over 7 maanden of zo, ik vermaak me hier wel.
(To family and friends: Some of the crew note quite frequently about me being always happy. Especially when you read yesterday’s blog about life at sea. Everything you do takes triple time as much time and effort. My answer to them is this is what life at sea is about. This is what I signed up for - helming with 10 to 14 knots of boat speed bouncing up and down the waves is what I love! See you in 7 months or something like that. I am enjoying myself here.)
Brought to you by the Dutchman on Dare to Lead, Out
IMAGE BELOW: Keeping the boat clean at all angles on Dare To Lead.
