Race 1 - Day 24
Crew Diary - Race 1 Day 24: Liverpool to Punta del Este
13 September

Charlotte Hauser
Charlotte Hauser
Team Greenings
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We are Shellbacks!

When I went to the Clipper Race group interview on 1st April 2016, Della Parsons from the office (who is a circumnavigator) told us that when you ask people what was their best moment and their worst moment during the race, it is often the same one: the worst one at the time but the best one looking back. I can now fully relay to this as yesterday was my first “Mother” day and also my first crossing of the Equator which is one of the dreams of any sailor. Will let you guess what felt the worst and what felt the best – Derek's blog from two days ago might help as we are still at a 45-degree angle...!

My day started at 5am for a 6.30am breakfast for the “on coming watch” and a 7am breakfast for the “off coming watch”. The role of the Mother can be summarised as follow:

  • Prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner for both watches
  • Bake 2 cakes
  • Bake 2 loads of bread and make yogurt for the next morning breakfast

I thought a 5am start would give me plenty of time to prepare breakfast first and then bake the 2 loads of bread and prepare yogurt for the next day to be ahead of the game but what I've learned is that things take 3 times the time it takes to do anything at home. Won't go into more details as I guess you have a pretty good idea by now if you have read the previous blogs!

The only thing I would say is that I knew it was going to be hard looking at the other Mothers but I completely underestimated how hard it would be and, more importantly, how it feels like the longest day ever and the fastest one at the same time. The longest because it is non-stop hard work for circa 15 hours; and the fastest since the clock is ticking and you have to make each meal ready on time to ensure the oncoming watch is not late to take over the deck from the off coming watch, which is obviously keen to get some food and some sleep towards the end of their watch.

During training with our Skipper Dave Hartshorn, I had made breakfast ready and felt very organised in the “galley”. Conditions were much calmer so it felt all under control. Until he called a “man overboard” drill by throwing “Bob” in the sea while half the crew was asleep. Porridge was ready and felt perfect so I got really frustrated to the extent that Dave noticed my body language from the helm!

Yesterday, breakfast also got interrupted between both watches but for another reason: the crossing of the Equator which happened at circa 7.10am local time! We all went on deck for the traditional picture and for some bubbly alcohol-free champagne kindly offered by Steve Hayes. Felt very nice although I would have fancied a proper glass of champagne! Our thoughts were with Dave at that moment – see our “DCBS” (Double Chest Bang Salute) pic!

Anyway, my priority that day was to feed 16 people including myself and I honestly found it hard to enjoy the moment of crossing the Equator – too much on my mind.

I found it even harder when I found out that contrary to what I had imagined - a nice ceremony with funny stories and treats like foie gras - the tradition is actually a “Court of Neptune” whereby Neptune (aka Dan our Relief Skipper for Leg 1, who has already crossed the Equator) – punishes each of us for the crimes we have committed. Crimes that he asked the rest of the crew to come up with the day before. The list was endless such as sleeping on the low side, being late on watch, being in the way of others all the time, sleeping on deck while being on watch. My “crime” was to have the smelliest socks and chatting at the helm which happens to be true so I pleaded guilty. I did not escape the sentence despite offering Neptune and my fellow crew members foie gras for the aperitif later on to redeem myself. Others tried to redeem themselves with a joke or a song but although Neptune got entertained, it did not prevent him from punishing us – assisted by Jenny Hall - by pouring a mixed preparation on our heads made of porridge, mushy peas and anything else he could find coming out from the galley that day...! Some of us also got a haircut, nail polish for men or got to kiss the baby's belly aka Chris Walsh's belly with marmite or peanut butter...!

As if we did not feel gross enough after 3 weeks at sea! The funny thing is that being Mother, Skipper Dan, allows us a shower if we wish but as much as I want one, I did not find any energy to have one where I would only have one hand to wash myself anyway: “one hand for the boat one hand for the man” rule applies – especially when heeled over and whilst bouncing like we are!

Still felt a reward in the end pending our certificates declaring our status change from Pollywog to Shellback.

Other than that, I would like to give my very special thanks to Jemma Cowley for helping out washing up, Hannah Thomson for her smile, sense of humour and usual support as Watch Leader, Derek Hart for helping out opening the potatoes tins, Fred (Charles Ferguson) for giving me the mental strength to carry on when I was very close to give up, Miles Berry for his help here and there throughout the entire day, Tony Wilson for her usual help and tips as Victualler, and every single one of my crew members for always demonstrating empathy which is one of our core values.

Very special thanks to Dan Smith as well for driving us as a proper racing team and for making Dave proud of all of us.

Let the story continues...!

Charlotte