Training is Complete

I am writing this blog from the comforts of my home in Walnut Creek - no don't worry I have not decided to quit but have come home for a few days whilst the boats are being delivered from Gosport to Liverpool. To say that the weather in the UK was bad during my final training is an understatement but one of the comforts I have taken away is that these boats are designed for really adverse conditions so I will be in safe hands on my journey around the world over the next 10 months.

Clipper arranged for a photo shoot in the second week of my training and when the conditions were right they sent a helicopter out to take photos of the fleet. They wanted to show that this is no race for wimps so it had to be windy, big seas and we were asked to be overpowered - that is too much sail up. This photo is the result and there were some equally good ones of the other boats. I am sitting on the rail to the right of the guy above the N.



This photo is the scene on Durban with the crew on the rails on windward side, the skipper on the helm and the leeward rails almost in the water. Very wet but exhilarating.



The following day the weather system moved off and we had time to relax and enjoy the sunshine. Those who wanted to went to the top of the mast (not me) and took photos of the rest of the crew making sure they did not come to any harm. It was also a time where we could practice other skills such as recovering someone who had fallen overboard - hopefully also not me.......



On the final evening of my training we anchored off the Isle of Wight and enjoyed a spectacular sunset.



Upon our return to Gosport we spent a frantic week preparing the boat for the race. Fortunately the weather held up and we had lots of warmth and sunshine to prepare our new sails and rigging, provision for Leg 1 and conduct the many repairs and modifications that would make our lives a little more comfortable during the race. I also attended a 2 day "Sail Repair Course" and learnt how to use the Singer Sewing Machine we were provided with and how to repair a ripped sail.



This was the bunk I slept in during the 3 weeks I spent on board and is similar to the others. I don't mind the upper bunks as fortunately being tall is not really a hindrance for me. All the bunks have their advantages and disadvantages so we have decided to adopt a democratic system at the beginning of each leg and drawn names out of a hat for bunk selection.



I intend to spend the next few days at home repairing my body, tying up final loose ends and saying goodbye to my family whom I won't see again until Christmas in Australia.