We’re sailing in slow motion. The wind-seeker does its best, but can’t make us faster than 3-5 knots in the tropical night. I’m resting on the deck, comfortably laying on the staysail at the bow. Gentle waves sing their eternal song on the hull and the night wind feels like warm velvet on my sun-kissed skin. The stars are not as wild as the other nights, but the Pole star as well as the Southern Cross has both decided to grace our night sky, together reminding us how small our home planet is.
A couple of hours ago we enjoyed yet another stunning sunset, with dolphins jumping in a sun-coloured sea, and in a few hours, we’ll be welcoming the new day with yet another sunrise. In between, we’ll have a four-hour rest, when we’ll dream of our loved ones at home, and another night watch when we’ll share stories from the past and dreams about our future. We’ll enjoy breakfast with boat-baked bread and fresh yogurt, and each of us will roll into the day either in our bunks or on deck, depending on which watch we’re on.
In 70 short days, we’ll be sailing into Portsmouth, ready to get on with our normal lives and eager to share stories about the Race of Our Lives. But that’s 70 days from today. Now we are here, racing the oceans and enjoying the tropics, with people we may not meet again, on a boat we may not sail again, on an ocean we may never feel again. Let’s acknowledge how unique this moment in time is, indulge in every wake-up and every duty, and remember that every log entry is writing a chapter in our lives that will forever intertwine with all of us. Now is NOW!