Race 13 - Day 3
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland to Den Helder, Netherlands
20 July

Rosalind Guy
Rosalind Guy
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It is not often that I will get to celebrate a birthday at sea. Today was an exception and in fact somehow I managed to be on Mother Duty too.

Mother Duty on this race is so much easier than previously as we have pre-cooked a number of meals. Normally with our watch system it would have meant a lie-in, not today as we were short- handed so up I get for the 6am watch. With a staysail hoist, a spinnaker drop, and a Yankee hoist; after hoisting and dropping the halyards it was time for some shut eye until 9am.

On getting up for Mother Duty at 9.30am Vernon and I found that Tino had kindly chopped most of our vegetables for lunch. The galley had been decked out in its birthday style of banners and pink flamingo, parrot, guitar and flower garlands. Amongst this Vernon and I prepared birthday lunch of noodles, vegetables and spicy broth. Lunch was served during happy hour where we had updates as well as a chorus of happy birthday and yes gluten free chocolate cake baked by Karri and I'm sure others had a hand – thank you to all. As it turns out the theme of the day was cake and even better ones that I can eat.

Cake no. 2 gluten free Guinness cake baked by Sarah – Vernon's wife. Truly delicious and now quite a number of us would like this recipe. I have an extra slice stashed away in the fridge.

Cake no. 3 gluten free chocolate tray bake from Mum – we've yet to eat this one as we are saving this for at least tomorrow.

Cake no. 4+ there might be more we'll just have to wait and see.

So many birthday cakes in a day!

On a separate note thank you to Mum, Dad, Russell and Erin for the lovely card, such lovely words. Then there is Simon's too. Fiona, John, Skylar, Bradley and Jessica thank you too for my card and the chocolate – like the fact one is called chocolate cake – so another cake!

Hamilton family, you'd find it funny if you saw where we were today off John O'Groats in Scotland. Today has been blue sky all day and beautiful sailing.

I'll see you all very soon to continue birthday celebrations back in the UK.

Lots of love to all and thank you for the birthday wishes.

Ros