Race 13 - Day 1
Crew Diary - DERRY-LONDONDERRY, NORTHERN IRELAND TO DEN HELDER, NETHERLANDS
18 July

Hello Shore Support,

And we are off again! Then penultimate race. It is an odd feeling being so close to the finish of this crazy... And what a year it has been.

Thank you Derry for such a wonderful, welcoming, awesome stop-over.

What a stopover that was! 10 days in Derry and I think our livers are ready for a break following many a night at our Sponsor Bar, Granny Annies.

A big thank you for Gerard and the team there for looking after us so well.

Race Start was very exciting for later-leggers on the boat as it was our first start that wasn't a Le Mans. There were CANNONS! An actual START LINE! CROWDS! Oh the excitement!

So we're now back on the boat and off on our jaunt around Scotland before storming it down to Den Helder. Oh and Guess what, it's only...

5....MORE....DAAAAAAAYS!

Yes, our cry from the previous race is back as we all struggle to keep our eyes open. It would seem that adjusting to the watch system never gets any easier, but the pressure is on as we find ourselves in a favourable position vs the other boats (fingers crossed it's still favourable when you read this). The mood seems to change on Visit Seattle as soon as we can see other crews; it brings us focus.

We're surrounded by either rain or swirling fog, so our competitors continually emerge and disappear around us despite some being only 500m or so away. This is the same for the islands and rocks that we continually spy. It's all rather novel. I'm sure it must look like the boats are all actually on top of each other on the Race Viewer – for once, it actually feels like it.

Other than that, when we're not racing for our bunks, we're enjoying the delicious food prepared in port by members of the crew and their families; thank you very much if you made us a meal.

5 more days (again) on Visit Seattle

Mia