Race 1 - Day 31
Crew Diary - Race 1 Day 31: Liverpool to Punta del Este
20 September
The Mystery of Bag 31
Today is our 31st at sea so it was no surprise that the Mothers for the day went in search of Day Bag 31. But to no avail.
Others were called in and all possible nooks and crannies searched – to the same conclusion, nothing.
The bag was checked on board in Liverpool and allocated to a bilge for storage and there is no record of it being moved. Alone the loss of Bag 31 is puzzling but when allied to a similar loss earlier, of the bulk store bag for wraps and spare pasta, a whole new scope for one's imagination and conspiracy exists. Little boat fairies enjoying a lunch of tuna wraps springs to mind. To be fair it is day 31!
The loss of Bag 31 caused a deal of consternation among the staff at Cafe Nasdaq who in the end were able to cobble something together using our reserve supplies:
- Confit de Canard with wild rice
- Chicken Chasseur
- Apple Crumble and Custard.
What does 31 days at sea feel like? Many others have detailed their experience in amusing blogs that I have no intent in trying to match or best.
For me, the distinguishing feature of the race thus far has been the realisation that it never stops.
That might be a blinding glimpse of the bleeding obvious but the implications of that statement are so much greater than one imagines.
I was on deck last week sometime early in the morning. It was a dark evening, few stars and little obvious point for reference. Yet here was this 30 odd ton beast howling through the darkest night seemingly barely under control like a runaway horse. It was then that I came to realise that, except in the case of a MOB, we are serfs to the beast. We must feed it, clean it, maintain it to the exclusion of our own desires every minute of every day. That is quite a thought – especially at 2am on a dark night.
Overall, crew morale remains high. There is huge disappointment at our race position and, I suppose it must be said, our performance to date but despite this strong undercurrent of dissatisfaction we remain together as a team and we have every intention of fixing what needs to be fixed for Leg 2 – from which you will receive my next blog.
Best wishes to all.