Race 12 - Day 12
Crew Diary - NEW YORK, USA TO DERRY-LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND
02 July
The beginning of the end...
Bittersweet. That is how I would describe my mood today, and I suspect this is one shared by some of my fellow crew mates. Today is the 1st of July. The month in which this amazing adventure will come to an end. For the last 10 months the circumnavigators have lived and breathed this boat, and for some this has been a dream held even longer. Yet now, here we are ... 30 days out from the finish and in yet another interesting race situation.
For those who have lived on board for a while Leg 8 is proving to be potentially the toughest yet. This is not a yacht race; it is a test of endurance; of mental strength and surviving human interaction. The sailing is but a welcome addition to these 11 months. Minor irritations are starting to become major, and most will seem completely irrational to you in the outside world. The cumulative effect of these coupled with mixed feelings for what is to come next month is the cause of many fraught, often angry conversations.
In addition we have received the news of the necessary race extension. Do not underestimate the level of disappointment on board when we received this news. Even the most avid professional sailor must surely dream of getting off their boat. It does not mean they are not enjoying their race, nor that they wish they never started their journey in the first place.
There is a point at which you start to let yourself daydream of a different life, and different is the key word here. For me, when the distance to go ticks over to 999nm my mind starts to wander to thoughts of a large, warm, dry bed, or a world where I don't get dripped on every minute or one where I don't get told when to get up, or what and when to eat. All of these things make this race what it is, and I wouldn't change it. However I can dream. These dreams make getting out of my bunk at 2am, to put on cold damp clothes that I have been wearing for more than a week slightly more bearable. We calculate how many watches, how many meals, how many mother sleeps until we are in port and this is what fuels us. To then be told that the race has been extended means we all have to dig deeper to find that motivation. Friends, family and loved ones are now 3 more days away; there are 3 more cold, damp and miserable 6 hour day watches and we have dared to dream too early of all the things that we miss and now value much higher in life. However, we will plough on. This ship needs to be sailed, the bilges need to be emptied and the crew need to be fed. We will continue to race hard until the end, whenever that is deemed to be. There are many different reasons why people take up this challenge, yet we are a team, a family and we are in it together.
A major topic of conversation recently has been the real world. "What will you be doing this time next month" no longer receives the response..."sailing, you?". Leggers and RTW crew face a major milestone in this race; home. For some the real world does not yet exist, having sold houses, resigned from jobs and sold their belongings to do this. Others will return to their old world, trying to decide if they still fit in, how this has changed them and processing the experiences they have had. Despite which category we fall into, it will be a challenge. Once the initial novelty of being on land has passed, and those with homes to go to settle in, I have no doubt that thoughts will be back on the race and friendships founded at sea will be flourishing with conversations of remembered cherished moments.
It is important to remember here that not all of the crew will be returning home at the end of this race; they continue to be in our thoughts.
The excitement of this ending, versus the apprehension of the real world.
As we near the British Isles this is a catalyst for so many thoughts. For me, I am going to try and enjoy the remaining days sailing as much as I know I will enjoy the remaining days of the stopovers. The minor irritations that irrationally cause such hilarity and momentary anger will continue I am sure but they will not shadow this amazing experience. As Nicky (Legs 2,8) said the other day "seeing dolphins never gets boring", which I think probably received a response of "hmm" from those behind the traveller as we secretly oohhed and ahhed under our smock hoods. I think this sums it up perfectly... we may not always admit to enjoying ourselves, yet we are and when this is over we will miss it.
A few personal notes;
Thank you to:
- everyone who came to see me in NYC. I'm sorry I didn't get to spend as much time with you as we had hoped but it was lovely to see you.
- My aunt Mary for the HMS Unicorn mascot. It is up in the nav station keeping an eye on us
- Heledd, for the hand warmers and the liquorice allsorts. Unfortunately I had to share the allsorts with those behind the traveller!!
Plus a huge well done to my cousin Ollie who received his degree results today - very proud of you! We will have to celebrate when I'm back home.
29 days left and counting...
Chloe xx