BallOfSpray

RACE 4 - DAY 15 - by Dan Oliver (Gold Coast Australia)

Challenge of a life time, that's exactly what this is... from cooking for 19 people on a boat, on a angle of 30 degrees to helming over 22.9 knots in winds of 50+ knots down 40 foot waves. With all the numb fingers and 4am wake ups calls in between.

People mention the highs and lows on board... I struggled with this one because the only low I have found so far is the fact I'm only doing one Leg!

Week 1

We had an amazing race start leaving Cape Town in first straight into a headwind, which caused for a bumpy ride, yet was a nice way to start my race, the 1st two days were heading up wind south, past the Cape of Good Hope, first thought were was I going to be sea sick... Answer NO...I did feel a little queasy but I wasn't sick :) sailing then got into a rhythm with the four hour on watch four hour stand by and then four hours of bed. Day 7 was my first shower. On board Gold Coast Australia we have a luxury power shower (a hose pipe linked to the tap). It works really well with hot water pumped to the scoop (very back of boat).

Week 2

This is where it gets really exciting. Still heading south heading a course of 130 about south east... Winds building swells growing weather turning COLD. By now I'm fully up to date with how the boat runs and how some people like there teas and how others have a specific way to get ready for watch. My watch (team) consists of Dan the man, watch leader, Me, Tim, Taz, Babs and Erich aka Green watch. Later changed to boobies or young watch... I have got on really well with all my watch and the rest of the crew. We are all really lucky to get on so well... (so far).