Race 7 - Day 25
Crew Diary - Whitsundays to Da Nang, Vietnam
14 February

Valentines

Happy Valentines. LMAX Exchange has enjoyed this very special day.

Messages of affection were shared between watches, poems written and gifts offered.

My Dearest TTs,

It's that time of year, it's Valentine’s Day,
But we're stuck on a boat, loved ones far away.

So we turn to the TTs, and open our hearts,
We love each one of you dearly, you all do your parts.

So here is our tribute, an ode to each one,
The praise well deserved, and the mocking for fun.

Your mothers are amazing, your cakes are the best,
We're sorry we eat it, whilst you all rest.

Ting Tongs are always timely on deck

But have a habit of leaving our kites in a wreck.

The Ting tongs have great banter but there's more as well, so without further ado,
here's why we think you're swell:

Ana, thank you for working your magic so that our kites may fly once more Big Bertha may be wiffy, but without her no hope of a score.

Ana's our angel, she stitches and sews,

Our sails back together, relieving our woes.

Stephen your boundless positivity shines like the sun, thanks for your positivity that motivates everyone
Steve's speeches inspire us, our own Papa Smurf, He keeps the boat running, the engine's his turf.

Isabelle we love to hear your bubbling laughter all day long, can we have what you're having, and smoke it in a bong Isabelle's laughter,
is heard all day long, It keeps us light-hearted, no matter what's wrong.

Dominique we love your work with ropes, without which there'd be no hope when you do it in your Y-fronts, it makes us think you're so dope.

Our hero in Y-fronts, Dominique's always there,
When ropes start to fray, and fall in disrepair.

Junior, for our benefit, you're always so well groomed,
Without your climbing the mast, we would surely be doomed.

Junior's our playboy, he's always well-groomed,
But still climbs the mast, when it looks like we're doomed.

Marine as your name suggests, the sea is where you belong, thanks for helming us true to course all the way along Marine is our native, she's one with the sea,
Her helming is perfect, and her knowledge worth three.

Axel you're a man of few words but of great knowledge
We do hope you find a great new German college
Axel the strong-man, so quiet whilst awake,
But when he starts snoring, the boat starts to shake.

Stephanie you have reinvented hummus … your 3 layer cake is epic, we especially love it when you save the bowl for us to lick.

Steph throws herself, gung-ho at all tasks,
Walks back with a smile, “Is that all?” she asks.

And here we have it, our fabulous partners in crime
See you in a few hours for another good time.

Lots of Love

The LBs

x x x

Our dearest LBs,

Since the moment our paths were combined in Gosport, it's like the magnetic forces of the earth permanently shifted. Our lives will never be the same again.

Without you:

Our engine would be WOBBLED only half of the time.

You keep us healthy by eating all the cakes, chocolates, pringles, biscuits, requests for drinks, …
Our meals would only be half cooked.

There would be fewer snakes to charm in the snake pit.

We would be lost without you at the helm and navigating us through the storms. It would feel like navigating with only one rudder.
We would not have a warm bed to come home to after our watches.

The bilges would remain full of our tears.

You are the light of our compasses. We want to travel the world together, and with you at our sides the journey to Da Nang could last forever.

Forever Yours

TTs.

And of course a poem to our Skipper:

Our Dearest Olivier,

Spinnakers are white

Grinders are black
The sea is blue

and your language is too

Your passion for the seas is beyond doubt,
Equalled only by your love to shout.

You enjoy a laugh, a play and a joke

but only when you've had your first smoke

You help us win and that we often do

So thank you for that, we couldn't do this without you

“No Blah Blah Blah” is what we often hear “Allez! Allez! Allez!” is what we always fear.

LMAX Exchange is our name, and trimming is our game, we are all behind you and hungry for fame.

Gifts have included:

A chocolate fondue for Steph

Head massage for Brig

Unlimited supply of fresh water for showering with for Isabelle

5 pieces of clothes washing for Marine

A dance to a tune of his choice with whoever he wishes for Steven A back massage for Olivier
A two hour helming lesson from Adrian whilst being fed chocolate for Pascal
A hand massage for Helen
A 30 minutes deck yoga class with two others for Mark
A 30 minutes one to one helming lesson by Olivier for Glen

A slumber and movie party in the sail locker for Junior