Race 13 - Day 2
Crew Diary - Derry-Londonderry to Liverpool
23 July
Leg 8 – Race 13 – Day 2 – Sandra Squire
Well here we are again aboard Good Ship GREAT, nearly 24 hours after Londonderry gave us an incredible send off. So many people lined the quay, the river, the bridges and followed us out on small boats. Our arms ached from all the waving! It was especially lovely to see the small crowd of people gathered at the Yacht Club where some of us had tried Foyle Punt Racing a few evenings ago. The Foyle Punts are beautiful wooden boats with no keel that use bags of rocks as ballast for stability! Team Great once again got stuck in a wind hole but a good time was had by all. The people of Derry welcomed us, we thoroughly enjoyed meeting you all, especially those who came to visit us on our open boat day. I'm sure many of us will certainly return.
Today will be my last turn as “mother”, I have Beanie as mother buddy today, we have just served 'sausage surprise' for lunch, having spent the morning defending the sausages from hungry marauding crew. Some of us have secret stashes of salami that we bought at one of the food stands at the maritime festival, there is much debate about where we could have hidden them! All could be revealed in the Great NasDuck Hunt over the coming days. One was found by Beanie in the bilges today and I'm reliable informed there are more stowaways onboard waiting to be found.
Most of us have mixed feelings about this race and our impending arrival into Liverpool. For me, I'm looking forward to seeing my family and having crossed an ocean, I've done what I set out to do, so I'm ready to get off this boat. However there's a part of me that doesn't want it to be over just yet. I suspect that if the weather forecast for Wednesday is anywhere near correct, I'll be more than ready to get off this boat sometime on Wednesday!
So what have I learnt along this journey? I've learnt that you can bring a bunch of complete strangers together, from all over the world, from different backgrounds, with different skills and make an amazing team, that can stand together through anything. And that a little tolerance and a kind word can really change someone's day. I've learnt that I can push myself completely out of my comfort zone, that I can do without so many of the things we take for granted normally. (Personal hygiene possibly not such a good example here!)
Is this journey going to change my life? Maybe it already has.
I've made some amazing friends, both on the GREAT boat, amongst the other boats and the supporters. It's made me look at what is and isn't possible in life a little differently and has been a stepping stone on to my next adventure. Hopefully it's taught my boys that they don't have to settle for ordinary, that it really is only us that sets our limits.
I've crossed the Atlantic with one great team this year & next year I'll cross it again with another one. As a member of the Norfolk BrOARds, we will be rowing from the Canaries to Antigua. Once the crazy takes hold, there really is no stopping it!
To the pupils & staff at Magdalen Academy – have a great summer holiday, I'll see you in September. Yes, I have pictures of whales to show you!
To my son Michael – well done in your SATS, I'm very proud of you.
To my son Bob – put the iPad down and go outside.
To the rest of my family – see you Saturday. Hope you've cleaned the house before I get back!
And to all of our friends and supporters – thank you for your unswerving support on this crazy journey of ours. We appreciate everything and really couldn't do it without you. Much love to all
x
“If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt Disney
Remember – Dream BIG