Race 1 - Day 20
Crew Diary - Race 1, Day 20: Liverpool to Punta del Este
09 September
We are close to the Equator. The last few days we were slowly moving via the Doldrums Corridor; the wind was going down but the temperature was going up. The last 36 hours have been somewhat, well, odd! Most people's image of the Doldrums would involve blue sky, flat water, no wind, and gently flogging sails. This is why we have the 60 hour motoring rule.
For some crew members, that was a nice time to relax, while for the others, that was a time for hard working. Three girls took showers and could wash their hair again (after a nice rest in the sun in swimming costumes). Some of us did not have this opportunity, and are still waiting for a chance to do so. Stian Tonnesen and me we were trying to repair our spinnaker, the Engineer was working on installation, some crew members were "milking lines" etc.
We had one day specially dedicated for laundry (everyone could wash their own clothes in one litre of fresh sweet water). Our yacht was like one big laundry service on that day.
The next day, and for first time on deck, we could listen to classical music (Mozart, Vivaldi, Chopin). On that day we had the most beautiful moon on the sky also. A red dot slowly showed up on the horizon about 0100, flashing bright in the pitch black. Then slowly, it starts to change shape surrounded by clouds. Thirty minutes later, clear atmosphere created a spectacular big orange moon visible on the sky for the next several hours. We switched on Elton John's "Amaze Me" song. That was a beautiful moment on this race, after the song, everyone looked at this spectacle in calm silence.
Last night, the gentle breeze grew to lashing rain and upwards of 38 knot gusts...the good ship PSP Logistics was ploughing through 5+ meter swells, hurling tons of water aside, (requiring the helm to wear a helmet and visor!), as it resolutely pressed south. "This isn't what we expected from the Doldrums" has been muttered by all crew at one time or another in the last 48 hours...
The Skipper decided to changed our watch time from eleven people on deck to four on deck on one Watch. Probably that decision was made by the potential possibility of taking as much rest as it possible on a calm sea state before we will cross the Equator. We suspect that the South Atlantic would not be so kind as it was till now and the real race battle will take place. Keep your fingers crossed, we are ready! PSP Logistics is coming!!!!
Martyna