Race 11 - Day 15
Crew Diary - Leaving Seattle
14 May
It was four and half years ago that I bumped into my friend Linda at a Christmas Party, who told me she’d just signed up for Leg 7 of the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race. Wow, that sounds like an exciting adventure, I wouldn’t mind doing that myself. Two weeks later I too had signed up for Leg 7 for the Race of my Life! Thanks Linda, although you do realise this is all your fault. She’s on Punta del Este and we’re level pegging at the moment, so a gauntlet has firmly been laid down.
Much has been documented about life on board a Clipper Race yacht. Suffice to say this ain’t no luxury cruise. In fact it should be made illegal to mention ‘Clipper Race' and ‘luxury' in the same sentence, ever! During the two long Covid years many of my friends asked me:
“Have you done your sailing trip yet?”
“Nope, still waiting.”
“What’s it like living on those yachts – do you have your own cabin?”
“Er, well, not exactly. We do have a cabin but 16 people are crammed into it.”
“What about showers and toilets?”
“No showers. We do have two toilets but with no seats. And now we’re proper sailors we actually call them heads, although I’ve still no idea why. We are allocated a bunk though, but we have to share that with someone else. Not at the same time you understand.”
“What? You must be mad. Why on earth would anyone pay good money to do that?”
“Well, on the face of it, I am inclined to agree. BUT, as with all things, you have to go through pain to get to the good bits.”
Image: Graham and JD
Finally, upon heading out from Seattle and leaving Puget Sound and heading down the Pacific Ocean, I climb out onto the deck. It’s totally different up here. The sun is shining, there’s not a cloud in the sky, 15-20 knots of breeze comes out of the north and we’re heading south towards the start line. Race on! We sweat up the sails – it takes some sweat too. The mast is 95 foot tall, with sails the size of tennis courts. The wind fills the sails, the boat heels over at 25 degrees and the shrouds and sheets grind and groan under the tension, accelerating the 40 ton 70 footer into the ocean at 10-12 knots, sending a tingle of excitement down the back of my neck. Now that’s what I’m talking about, and I’m reminded of the words from the theme music of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, “That’s living alright!!”
Graham, out!