Race 1 - Day 31
Skipper Report
20 September
As you can see, we are not moving too quickly. Just a few days to go and this is Mother Nature’s way of saying you must stop, think of what you and the crew have achieved, and look at what you are all going to miss about being at sea before I let you carry on.
I will post the last in the series of the simulations you can try at home to prepare you for ocean yacht racing, then tomorrow turn you towards what I hope will be our final or penultimate blog, expressing thanks to the wonderful crew I have had the pleasure of sharing this adventure with so far. Today I will open your eyes up to the very simple task of changing a headsail.
You will need:
- Three or four friends
- An automatic carwash
- A poorly trained husky team
- An industrial-grade roller blind
- A large roll of sodden carpet
- A pulley system
Purchase three or four cycles at your local automatic car wash. We recommend Programme 5 – this will leave your teeth and nails with a waxy shine and will help with your personal hygiene issues. Before starting the programmes, make preparations by installing the roller blind just out of comfortable reach of where you intend to stand. Ensure the blind spring is unfeasibly tight so that it will snatch from your hand and recoil more times than anyone could find amusing. Install the pulley system above the roller blind. Once you are ready, let loose the dogs! Using bungee cord, tie at least two huskies to yourself and to each of your friends. Start the programme and enter the car wash. Amid the maelstrom, you should aim to stand in a loose line, reaching and grabbing for the roller blind. The dogs will pull you away in random directions and the soap will make your hands slip, but you must pull the blind down. Once fully reeled in, work to secure it before reaching for the roll of carpet. If you can lift it, the roll you chose was too small. Attach one end to the pulley and, during the drying cycle, hoist to its full height. Secure the carpet before retiring to the forecourt shop for a Costa Express and double chocolate muffin. Repeat at regular intervals throughout the day, and aim to get 95% dry before each repetition.
Wish us luck with the wind so close to the end. Where ever we come now, that first beer is going to taste really good!!
Andy and the GREAT Britain Team.