Race 13 - Day 10
Crew Diary - Crew Diary: Race 13 Day 10
07 July

ETAs

As we approach Oban and ETAs are being published on the website, we’re having to manage our expectations. Our arrival window of 12-16 July is clear but some of us are quietly hoping for an arrival early in that window to see our lovely family and friends on the pontoon.

I’m reminded of a psychological study run years ago on expectationmanagement. Three groups from the Israeli army were assigned to one of three conditions. The first group was told they were marching ten miles. The second group was told they were marching five miles and then at the five mile mark were told they were marching another five. The last group was told they were marching one mile and when they reached the one milemark they were told they were marching another mile; a pattern that was repeated all the way to ten miles. As you’veprobably guessed, the group that had their expectations managed from the outset performed best on a range of measures, including motivation.

And so, with us;our expectations have been managed like the first group in the study, however, human nature creeps in and each day past 12th July can feel like the extra mile experienced by group three.

So, as we calculate the miles left to race and hope that we’ll see the Euros final on Sunday in Oban, we need to manage our own expectations. It remains for us to enjoy the bright sunshine by day and the magnificence of the starry sky by night. To relish this once in a lifetime experience; the ocean, the crew – and the most fabulous Great Clipper Bake-off onWashington DC.