Race 13 - Day 3
Crew Diary - Race 13 Day 3
22 June

It’s great to be back! Now if you had asked me that on Monday, nearly three years since completing Leg 1, I may have given you a very different answer. It was a difficult upwind start but now that I’ve refound my sea legs and the Clipper Race muscle memory has kicked in, I’m glad I came back for Leg 8! Afshin confirmed it takes a day or two to get back into it with one of my new favourite sailing quotes: ‘that first puke is the best!’.

Visit Sanya, China has been fortunate that many of our crew returned after Covid and I’m sailing with the same incredible human beings I started this whole thing with. We are currently in 5th place and pushing forward as hard as we can with sail changes from Yankee 2 to Code 2 to Code 1 to Windseeker on rotation. A few things are different vs. last time I raced on Sanya such as the 2-watch system and porridge (thank you Colin)! Some things have stayed the same such as our sense of humour, cleanliness and drive to keep moving forward.

One of the things that still impresses me even though we had so much of it on Leg 1 is the beauty and tranquillity of the stars at night and the sound of the water against the hull. Something I would have only experienced through the Clipper Race and that I will always remember. The crew is happy and very excited about sailing into NYC. It is my home harbour and I have a few surprises planned for them as we approach the marina. Jai Ho, Sanya! See you in two days NYC!