Race 11 - Day 4
Crew Diary - Wardrobe Watching and Hindsight is 20-20
04 May

We’re on day 4 of Race 11 of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race (Seattle to Panama), off the coast of California and the styles seen on board Unicef are unique and practical to say the least. Before going further, it’s probably best to begin with the observation that Clipper 70s have no mirrors. This is perhaps a good thing.

1. Crocs are very much in vogue (yes, it’s not just our beloved watch leader (see 50 knots in crocs). Even with socks. Even with long socks. No one will judge you. Go wild: screaming colours have the added advantage of being easier to find in the dark (and when they get wrapped up in a shoulder-high mountain of sailcloth while we try to pack the tennis-court-sized sail inside the boat) they will always find their way back to you!

Crocs also allow your family to distinguish you from your fellow crew members on the livestream of the race start: ‘You were the one in the yellow crocs, right?’ (Nugent family, May 2022)

2. It’s possible to wear your bank-robber ski mask together with your sun hat and sun glasses and be appropriately dressed for the conditions. Don’t let anybody tell you differently.

3. Never, ever, ever, wear your thermal onesie as any one of layers 1-3 of your 5 layers. In the best of circumstances using the heads can be compared to trying to use an aeroplane cattle-class toilet during heavy turbulence, when you’ve tried to bypass baggage fees by wearing the contents of your suitcase. Adding a badly-placed onesie to this mix is to crash and burn: once you’ve fought your way out of and back into today’s ensemble you may need to lie down.

4. Knee pads wander: even if you push them down to your ankles while you sleep (yes, your pyjamas are your day clothes: in a world without instagram anything is possible) they might not be there when you wake up. Wear the one you find (even if it’s not yours!). Keep your knees happy! (or at least one of them, if that’s all you’ve got).

As we head south there will be fewer layers of clothing (and less time to spend getting dressed) but just as much imagination and flair: here we go!