Race 4 - Day 5
Crew Diary - Race 4 Day 5
23 December

The Race of Your Life, Guest House, Host House – Some thoughts about the life on board and your nutrition habits.

First some explanatories:

1. Some months ago, I signed up for the RACE of Your Life round the world. Regarding our eating habits during this time, I did not expect too much. Pasta, rice, protein and nutrition bars, dried milk, electrolytes, and maybe at the beginning of a leg - fresh fruits. Things that I’d expect on a race.

2. A “Guest House” is a small inn or hotel in a German-speaking country or region, where the processes are directed to please the guest.

3. A “Host House” (in German “Wirtshaus”) is a tavern, where the host (in German “Wirt”) defines the rules, and the guest can comply or not… And, it is usually a little rustic and straight forward.

When I joined the race, I was expecting something between 1 and 3 - efficient processes, simple but energy-rich food, easy to prepare, easy to clean away afterwards, one menu, no options. What do I find? Breakfast with porridge (well, it is a UK boat…), cereals, daily baked fresh bread, toast, marmalade, jam, Nutella, Marmite (a British savoury food spread based on yeast extract), dried raisins, coffee, tea. Lunch and dinner with fresh chicken fillets, fresh vegetables (not all make it to the cooking pot due to expiration of the lifetime, but…). Of course, there is also pasta & pesto, macaroni and cheese, rice with mushrooms, etc. But we enjoy muffins with orange or ginger flavour. And, if the weather and the sea allows, we also have birthday cakes when there is the occasion. Ok, the preparation of the food takes a long while. The cleaning of the dirty pots and bowls as well. And after your duty in the galley of 14+ hours of having chopped onions, and carrots meant for 20 people, you are tired.

I have to admit, the truth is somewhere in the middle - as always. Different people have different requirements. A RACE around the world is no cruise. But, different situations request different solutions. Only a healthy and well-fed crew will be able to achieve outstanding performances. Therefore: Enjoy the macaroni cheese and muffins! “Mens sana in corpore sane” (= A healthy mind in a healthy body). To all galley experiences, to the host- houses and guest houses. Maybe the appropriate solution succeeds and have an enjoyable race with many podiums!