Hi everyone,
All good here. It’s cold and most of us have 4-7 layers under our foulies, nice and warm in the sleeping bag which is where I am now. Small black and white dolphins, lots of albatrosses. Condensation inside the boat is not good, makes everything damp. Putting wet kit on before each watch is not pleasant, especially socks, but ocean colours,skies, stars, sunsets and sunrises are amazing and makes up for all the discomfort. Winds have dropped to 20-30 kn and waves reduced to 4-5m.
X
Saturday 7 December 2019
Wednesday 13 November 2019
I’m now in Cape Town.
Leg 2 was hard, the ocean wasn’t particularly kind to us and our northern route followed a low pressure system which meant we were in pretty big sea for days. Upwind/ beam reach sailing makes everything hard below decks. Sleeping is challenging partly because the boat is so noisy and the grinders are inches from your head but also because you have a constant threat of falling from your bunk. When it’s the top bunk that’s a long way to fall.
Cooking is not easy either, I made bread every morning at 4 am and the loaves often ended up misshaped as gravity took hold during the cooking process.
Wedge shape cakes is another specialty of ours.
Other practicalities like dressing or using the bathroom are all very challenging when your floors aren’t horizontal and the walls aren’t vertical.
But ..
Helming in big seas is awesome, I often image 8-stone me pitched against the 2 x 8 foot tall, 20 stone (?) each rudders with me winning the battle. They kick and buck as the sea wants them to go one way and I want them to go in the opposite direction. They can kick back so hard that, on a few occasions, I have been thrown out of the helming station but the feeling of winning each battle and getting the boat on track is great.
Sliding/surfing down the big waves as gravity takes hold is amazing as well. As the boat peaks at the top of the waves and all you can see is a massive water slide down into the valley below, you know this 40 ton boat is going to be out of control for a few seconds before you are able to gain control at the bottom and get her back on track. My maximum speed so far is 17.9 knots but others have achieved 24 knots.
Sitting on deck waiting for trimming instructions or sail evolution's is not easy either. The sea often smacks you in the back when you are least expecting it and can carry you over the deck colliding with the various objection bolted to the down. We had a few injuries due to this. The cockpit fills up like a swimming pool and makes its way into the sleeping corridor.
One day, close to Cape Town, we saw a great white shark a few feet from the side of the boat which was exciting. A whale breached the surface several times behind the boat and sea birds often used the boat to hunt for the fish we may have disturbed. We have seen albatrosses, petrels, and boobies.
The middle of the ocean is a lonely place where few marine animals show themselves, there are no ships and even the birds are fewer in numbers.
It’s all amazing though.
Boat leaves Cape Town on Sunday and we have a 23-ish day crossing to Fremantle. The southern ocean is a desolate place with huge waves and cold temperatures, this is one of the biggest challenges of the race. Thought I might get off in Cape Town and fly but now I’ve decided to go on. The thought of disappointing the follows, particularly the children, is spurring me on.
Leg 2 was hard, the ocean wasn’t particularly kind to us and our northern route followed a low pressure system which meant we were in pretty big sea for days. Upwind/ beam reach sailing makes everything hard below decks. Sleeping is challenging partly because the boat is so noisy and the grinders are inches from your head but also because you have a constant threat of falling from your bunk. When it’s the top bunk that’s a long way to fall.
Cooking is not easy either, I made bread every morning at 4 am and the loaves often ended up misshaped as gravity took hold during the cooking process.
Wedge shape cakes is another specialty of ours.
Other practicalities like dressing or using the bathroom are all very challenging when your floors aren’t horizontal and the walls aren’t vertical.
But ..
Helming in big seas is awesome, I often image 8-stone me pitched against the 2 x 8 foot tall, 20 stone (?) each rudders with me winning the battle. They kick and buck as the sea wants them to go one way and I want them to go in the opposite direction. They can kick back so hard that, on a few occasions, I have been thrown out of the helming station but the feeling of winning each battle and getting the boat on track is great.
Sliding/surfing down the big waves as gravity takes hold is amazing as well. As the boat peaks at the top of the waves and all you can see is a massive water slide down into the valley below, you know this 40 ton boat is going to be out of control for a few seconds before you are able to gain control at the bottom and get her back on track. My maximum speed so far is 17.9 knots but others have achieved 24 knots.
Sitting on deck waiting for trimming instructions or sail evolution's is not easy either. The sea often smacks you in the back when you are least expecting it and can carry you over the deck colliding with the various objection bolted to the down. We had a few injuries due to this. The cockpit fills up like a swimming pool and makes its way into the sleeping corridor.
One day, close to Cape Town, we saw a great white shark a few feet from the side of the boat which was exciting. A whale breached the surface several times behind the boat and sea birds often used the boat to hunt for the fish we may have disturbed. We have seen albatrosses, petrels, and boobies.
The middle of the ocean is a lonely place where few marine animals show themselves, there are no ships and even the birds are fewer in numbers.
It’s all amazing though.
Boat leaves Cape Town on Sunday and we have a 23-ish day crossing to Fremantle. The southern ocean is a desolate place with huge waves and cold temperatures, this is one of the biggest challenges of the race. Thought I might get off in Cape Town and fly but now I’ve decided to go on. The thought of disappointing the follows, particularly the children, is spurring me on.
Sunday 27 October 2019
Punta Del Este to Cape Town, Day 1, Race 3, 23/10/2019
Hi,
Start of race 3 to Cape Town!
Wednesday 23rd of October 2019, mum set off at 3pm from punta de este east towards Cape Town. Before she got on the boat I had a quick chat to her. She was excited for the next part of her journey and what the south Atlantic awaited for them. In two days after watching closely on clipper race viewer we received her first email.
“The clock has just ticked over to 26th October which means we have already been at sea for 2.5 days and we have travelled 500nm. I’ve been helming with spinnaker at night in very heavy seas. It’s great.
We have had a series of knockdowns and last night we lost our steering. Whilst the engineer fixed it, we fixed the spinnaker again. It all took about 20 minutes and then we were back racing. It was a very busy shift. We also made bread and yoghurt.
Oh and it’s looks like we are in the lead atm”
Richy
The clock has just ticked over to 26th October which means we have already been at sea for 2.5 days and we have travelled 500nm. I’ve been helming with spinnaker at night in very heavy seas. It’s great.
We have had a series of knockdowns and last night we lost our steering. Whilst the engineer fixed it, we fixed the spinnaker again. It all took about 20 minutes and then we were back racing. It was a very busy shift. We also made bread and yoghurt.
Oh and it’s looks like we are in the lead atm
Start of race 3 to Cape Town!
Wednesday 23rd of October 2019, mum set off at 3pm from punta de este east towards Cape Town. Before she got on the boat I had a quick chat to her. She was excited for the next part of her journey and what the south Atlantic awaited for them. In two days after watching closely on clipper race viewer we received her first email.
“The clock has just ticked over to 26th October which means we have already been at sea for 2.5 days and we have travelled 500nm. I’ve been helming with spinnaker at night in very heavy seas. It’s great.
We have had a series of knockdowns and last night we lost our steering. Whilst the engineer fixed it, we fixed the spinnaker again. It all took about 20 minutes and then we were back racing. It was a very busy shift. We also made bread and yoghurt.
Oh and it’s looks like we are in the lead atm”
Richy
The clock has just ticked over to 26th October which means we have already been at sea for 2.5 days and we have travelled 500nm. I’ve been helming with spinnaker at night in very heavy seas. It’s great.
We have had a series of knockdowns and last night we lost our steering. Whilst the engineer fixed it, we fixed the spinnaker again. It all took about 20 minutes and then we were back racing. It was a very busy shift. We also made bread and yoghurt.
Oh and it’s looks like we are in the lead atm
Wednesday 9 October 2019
Portimao to Punta Del Este, Day 24, Race 2, 09/10/2019
With 400nm to go, mum and her team are super excited to get into Punta. The battle for first is heating up there is 0.025 nm between Qingdao and Sanya. Heres a quick email received from her tonight!
So life aboard the good ship Sanya continues. Just managed to wash my hair for the second time. Feels fab.
This morning we saw whales, dolphins and Qingdao for the first time in 3000 miles.
We can see they have a spinnaker up so we have just put ours up. It could very well be a photo finish this race. Not sure whose in the lead but we will be crossing the finish line at the same time. We think we will be there Friday afternoon.
Thanks
So life aboard the good ship Sanya continues. Just managed to wash my hair for the second time. Feels fab.
This morning we saw whales, dolphins and Qingdao for the first time in 3000 miles.
We can see they have a spinnaker up so we have just put ours up. It could very well be a photo finish this race. Not sure whose in the lead but we will be crossing the finish line at the same time. We think we will be there Friday afternoon.
Thanks
Sunday 6 October 2019
Portimao to Punta Del Este, Day 21, Race 2, 06/10/2019
Update from mam
There are all sorts of better tactical minds thinking up devious plans to keep staying 1 step ahead of Qingdao.
We now have our code 3 up, which can deal with heavier winds, Afshin and I have just spent another 4 hours stitching and patching the code 2.
Less than 1000 miles to go now, then I can say I’ve sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.
We have now taken down the code 3 as the wind hit 34 knots and it became tricky.
Just helmed in massive seas - 20-30 foot waves. It was very physical.
Xx
There are all sorts of better tactical minds thinking up devious plans to keep staying 1 step ahead of Qingdao.
We now have our code 3 up, which can deal with heavier winds, Afshin and I have just spent another 4 hours stitching and patching the code 2.
Less than 1000 miles to go now, then I can say I’ve sailed across the Atlantic Ocean.
We have now taken down the code 3 as the wind hit 34 knots and it became tricky.
Just helmed in massive seas - 20-30 foot waves. It was very physical.
Xx
Tuesday 1 October 2019
Portimao to Punta Del Este, Day 16, Race 2, 01/10/2019
Hi
had an update of mother today,
“3393 miles already done. 2000 to go.
No major dramas, everything going well.
We are consistently sailing at 9-10knots and we have increased the lead on Qingdao to 60 miles.
Small issues with food and depressed member of crew but apart from that everything is going well
It is hard living at a slant though. Everything is so difficult to do below. Going to the loo, cooking are
both challenging.
Love to everyone. Missing you
L
LI Paderewskiy uht n”
Not sure what the last bit meant, some sort of secret code I think.
Rich
had an update of mother today,
“3393 miles already done. 2000 to go.
No major dramas, everything going well.
We are consistently sailing at 9-10knots and we have increased the lead on Qingdao to 60 miles.
Small issues with food and depressed member of crew but apart from that everything is going well
It is hard living at a slant though. Everything is so difficult to do below. Going to the loo, cooking are
both challenging.
Love to everyone. Missing you
L
LI Paderewskiy uht n”
Not sure what the last bit meant, some sort of secret code I think.
Rich
Monday 30 September 2019
Portimao to Punta Del Este, Day 15, Race 2, 30/09/2019
Hey hey,
Mum got in contact yesterday! They have crossed the equator!
“Just crossed the equator. Very happy people on board. First team and my watch was the first watch to cross the equator this race.
Now racing towards the ocean sprint
Life at an angle is hard, especially cooking, but the wind should be getting lighter in the next 24 hours.
Can’t wait to see land now.”
Mum got in contact yesterday! They have crossed the equator!
“Just crossed the equator. Very happy people on board. First team and my watch was the first watch to cross the equator this race.
Now racing towards the ocean sprint
Life at an angle is hard, especially cooking, but the wind should be getting lighter in the next 24 hours.
Can’t wait to see land now.”
Thanks for reading!
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