Race 10 - Day 22
Crew Diary - Brian McNealey
13 April

Day 22 Again

Last night saw us reach a significant milestone having travelled so far east that we fell into yesterday as we crossed the international dateline at 22:00 local time. I know I am not alone finding the approach of that achievement philosophically uplifting. The end of this specific race can finally be perceived as within reach.

There is no way the Clipper Race can be accused of under selling the physical and psychological challenge of the North Pacific crossing. Those on leg one will long remember the misery of week one as the fleet beat its way up the English Channel. Escaping up to the Japanese mainland and out into the real North Pacific had us close hauled for three times as long. Living life at 30 degrees is never easy even laying in your bunk. Feeling the boat go airborne as a wave catches out the helm has you tensing waiting for gravity to bring the bow slamming back to earth. Thankfully the wind finally changed direction allowing us to head north and east with the boat flatter and making good speed.

The race itself has so far not gone as well as we might have hoped. Losing our friend Nick to a medical evacuation (shoulder injury) by the Japanese coast guard was one set back of many in the first weeks. For now we languish at the rear end of the pack but I am happy to sail the same waters as the others with my thirteen friends, new and old, on Imagine your Korea. We are an older crew sailing closer to our physical limits but we will get there together.

One of my regrets following Legs 3 and 4 in the deep south was the prospect never again to watch albatross gracefully sweep past the boat with no perceptible change in their wing configuration. Little did I know that both species of Northern Hemisphere Albatross abound in these waters and we have been fortunate to have them around most days. On one afternoon we had four circling the boat at the same time.

Another highlight has been more whale sightings in this race than achieved in the twenty thousand and more nautical miles since leaving London. Of particular note one close encounter came several afternoons ago with the cry of “whale!”. From the high side of the boat there was a large tail slapping the water. We passed no more than 15 metres from its head when it became apparent the whale was inverted with me looking down on its white belly. It was not a day for any camera on deck so there is no photographic evidence. This is no fisherman's tail and you will have to believe me, it was huge!!!

The Pacific has delivered big waves and strong winds. We must all hope that the accompanying cold and wet conditions will recede in the memory as we reflect on the adventure sat by the warmth of a log fire one winter's night.

Brian