Follow the excitement of Clipper 09-10 through the musings of the crews. They’ll be sending back daily diaries from the boats describing life on board and the huge challenges they face as they race across the vast, forbidding expanses of the world’s oceans.
Desperate house-boat wife - by Lizzie Whewell (Team Finland) - 21 July 2011
How do you follow ‘Mark the Master chef’ – the equivalent of Brie Vanderkamp of Desperate Housewives fame (and both ginger though he doesn’t look as good in pearls), when you’re the counterpart dipsy Susan daydream on mother watch? That lad can muster magnificence from nothing leaving all subsequent Mommas quaking in their galley glad rags. It’s an impossible feat and yet EVERY time on this trip, I’ve managed the D-Day-A – Disaster Day After. No matter what you do, there’s no competing with him and satisfied taste buds are hard to forget. I’m therefore duty bound AGAIN to bow down and give the genius credit where credit is due. Sheer brilliance on the food front – just need to work on your table decorations Mark and your net curtains are a bit dirty!
It’s becoming ever apparent that I’m better placed elsewhere on the boat rather than chained to the galley. Bless the team for their ever forgiving smiles as I serve up what can only be described as a sort of disjointed Tapas made from yet another lottery food bag. A taste sensation it isn’t and nor will I be applying for any culinary shows in the vague hope I may sparkle under the spotlight. Still, at this stage of the race, I’m hoping their attentions are more focused on the rest of the fleet who seem to be closing in on us, rather than the confused but albeit colourful and artistically presented mess on their plates. If she were privy to my latest creation, my Domestic Science teacher would be turning in her polyester slacks (purchased from a Daily Mail Sunday supplement – elasticated at the waist and available in 17 shades of beige). Apologies; should have paid more attention as always!
So now it’s New York, New York to the long awaited Cape Breton Island. It’s already abundantly clear that the kind folk from Cape Breton Island have made tremendous efforts in making sure the Clipper lads and lasses will have an unforgettable time in their legendary land. Most have, at some point, said that Cape Breton is one of the jewels in the race crown and I suspect we’re not going to be disappointed. So in advance, thank you Cape Breton…
As for the race, it’s another game of cat and mouse. We’re trying to maintain position but the ever cunning Jerry’s are still scurrying at our heels (paws). As I type, Hull & Humber are in front whilst Cape Breton Island, Spirit of Australia and Uniquely Singapore are either across our beam or just behind it. Never to shy away from hard, concentrated work, the dulcet tones of ‘TRIM’ and ‘HOLD’ repeat over and over and over and over again as we work tirelessly to keep our mid-weight flying perfectly. Not even the creative plays on words of ‘Trim-triminee, trim, triminee, trim-trim, treloo’ (Mary Poppins) can deviate the mind too long from the banality of keeping that spinnaker in full swing. Is it worth it? A resounding ‘Hell, yes!’. We couldn’t be hungrier for a podium position and so, as ironically the crew are feeling less than satisfied on the food front, it seems only right that their appetites should be filled with a top three position. Come on Team Finland – that Eagle needs landing!
One last note from me and for all those at home… As my bestest Yorkshire buddy from Batley would say, I’m not only in a cube of love with Team Finland but a bubble too and the latter isn’t ready for bursting any time soon.
Life’s grand and I’m a very, very lucky lass to be here doing all I’m doing with a fantastic bunch of people and a wonderfully entertaining, lovely-lovely, unbelievably patient and hungry skipper (that just got me a free pint of the great Guinness and Black!). It’s amazing what you get back when you invest in the very people who make this experience what it is… Cheers Babba and the top Team Finlanders.
You’re wondering what inventive brilliance can be made from a ton of lentils and one lonely carrot. Least my flower beds look good…
Lizzie
Conan's Waverely blog - by Conan Henderson-Dott (Edinburgh Inspiring Capital)
26 June 2011
After being so busy since Rio, getting to grips with sailing and seeing the world, I thought it best to check in with the gang!
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Waverley; Conan edition - by Conan Henderson-Dott (Edinburgh Inspiring Capital)
24 June 2011
Race day started with a great deal of sun yet no wind with only a matter of hours to race start. The boat’s rigging was set up and after a parade from Sydney yacht club to the marina, in which many people joined in or just photographed our passing; it was time to get out on the water. Fortunately with ten minutes to the klaxon the wind returned, promising a close and exciting start right next to the marina.
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