Race 12 - Day 12
Crew Diary - NEW YORK, USA TO DERRY-LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND
02 July
Joining the Race
It's been almost a year since my last training, I was waiting for my race start in New York. As soon as we slipped our lines from the Liberty Standing Marina, I felt both stressed and excited. The adventure STARTS.
Lovely day, sunny, a great time to sail. I just forgot that it could be possible to be seasick for so long: I spent two days at the back of the boat, wondering what I was really doing here...
Joining the team late in the game meant that I had to integrate fast in an already well-oiled machine.
Hard work is definitely on the menu everyday
We don't talk about sailing experience only but also tricks and topics. How to pass 4 days in totally wet conditions, wearing foulies three times a day, and stay dry as much as possible was my first goal to live a good experience. Just forget it!
Welcome to the Clipper Race, the real simple life, and I surprised myself as to how easy it would be to adapt to this new environment. Thanks a lot to all of the crew members who gave me some advice. So appreciate that!
Sailing over the days with a wind range of 25 to 35 knots of wind and a moderate sea with waves ranging from 4 to 6 metres – trim, trim, trim, grind, grind, grind - helming for the first time and making some nice surf over 19 knots speed.. Yesss. I'm so happy to be here.
In the middle of the ocean, living completely in the present moment, I hope I will never forget some images like the first sunrise after 5 days under kite and some dolphins jumping in front of the bow or the strange cloudy night when the Milky Way finally appeared through a huge hole, it felt so close we seemed to have our heads in the sky – the perfect moment!
We are here for winning ... but what!
It's great to be disconnected from the world....
Jeanmo
IN OTHER NEWS:
Two orcas were sighted dancing through the waves just 10 metres off the back of the boat.