Race 13 - Day 4
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry, Northern Ireland to Den Helder, Netherlands
21 July

This race is turning out to be one of the better ones! We are constantly swapping positions with the other boats and at times are mere feet from another boat after sailing 400+ miles. We were so close to LMAX Exchange yesterday we probably could have chucked them an apple! I think it is safe to say this might be my second favourite race after the Sydney to Hobart race and it doesn't hurt that we are keeping up with the front boats! Although there is such a short distance between first and last that it really doesn't mean much.

Yesterday, we tacked south while most of the other boats tacked east and as luck would have it, we came out in front of ClipperTelemed+ with the lead! I was on the helm at the time and my strict instructions were to sail fast enough to overtake and cross in front of ClipperTelemed+...mission accomplished! Again short lived, but there were shouts all around after we came out in front into what we claimed as first place and of course all due to my excellent tacking skills!

The race is coming to an end for us Round the World'ers and what a journey it has been. When I signed up for the race, I remember thinking, what the hell did I just do?! And all my friends and family thought I was bat sh*t crazy! I had never stepped foot on a sail boat before in my life and was completely overwhelmed during Level 1 of training. But I had great instructors, Quentin and Huw, and even better crew mates who were there to endure the experience with me. I knew before the week was over, I would definitely be doing the race!

On race start, the anticipation was real, new people, new faces, new living conditions and a crazy ass manoeuvre out of St. Kat's Docks by Huw getting us swiftly on our way! For those that remember me on Leg 1, I was still somewhat reserved and quiet (it is true, I promise), but as each leg came and went, I slowly came out of my shell and became the Hobbits that you all know and love today!

After much prompting from my crew mates, I signed up for Leg 6 in Albany, officially adding me to the Round the World'ers club! At the time I had no idea what I was getting myself into but I just knew I couldn't do the whole race except for one leg and more importantly the crew would probably be horribly depressed in my absence! The famous Sydney to Hobart race lived up to its expectations and I may have shat myself during the race start after our near miss with another non Clipper boat! We finished with our best position yet and had an amazing reception in Hobart!

The races continued and then Leg 6 was upon us, the mighty Pacific crossing! I can't say enough how glad I am that I signed up for this leg! I have never in my life experienced anything like that...the waves were absolutely unbelievable! I've already forgotten how wet, damp and freezing the conditions were and only take away memories of surfing 28 knots down huge, magnificent waves!

Now we have finally made it to the penultimate race. I still can't believe I have made it this far and that the journey is almost over. I think I can honestly say that I am a competent sailor now and I don't even scream any more when we get too close to land or other boats! But besides that, what

I gained the most are the friendships I've made along the way. Anyone who signs up to do this race, whether a legger or a RTW'er has got some serious balls! And I have the utmost respect for all of them. I have made life long friends with people old and young and will have a couch to crash on whenever I come to visit...which I will!!

Let's go Visit Seattle as we crush this nail biting race, but even if we don't win, we are enjoying every moment and having the times of our lives!!!

Living the dream on Seattle

Dana

AKA Hobbits