An update on dates

I have just spent 50 minutes typing all the dates, places, marinas etc into my blog only for it all to disappear into the ether when I tried to add a photo.  It all needs re-doing so here goes......

Clipper have just announced the marinas for Rio and the Whitsundays (Queensland, Aus) along with departure dates and estimated arrival dates in the various ports.  Some of this you already know but here goes:

Race 1


Leaving London at the start of
the 2013-14 race

Depart London (St Katharine Docks) - 30th August 2015
ETA Rio de Janeiro (Marina da Glorio), Brazil 26th - 30 September 2015

Race 2
Depart Rio - 7th October
ETA Cape Town (Victoria and Albert Waterfront) 21st - 25th October

Race 3
Depart Cape Town - 31st October
ETA Albany (Albany Waterfront Marina), WA 22nd - 26th November

Race 4
Depart Albany - 1st December
ETA Sydney (Cruising Yacht Club of Australia) 12th - 15th December



Sydney Hobart race
December 2014

Race 5
Depart Sydney - 26th December (Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race)
ETA Hobart 30th - 31st December

Race 6
Depart Hobart - 2nd January 2016
ETA Airlie Beach (Abel Point Marina), Whitsundays, Queensland 13th - 14th January 2016

Race 7
Depart Airlie Beach - 18th January


Qingdao 2014

ETA South East Asia (location TBC)               mid-February

Race 8
Depart South East Asia (TBC)
ETA Qingdao (Olympic Sailing Harbour), China 10th - 13th March

Race 9
Depart Qingdao - 20th March
ETA Seattle (Bell Harbor Marina), USA    15th - 20th April

Race 10
Depart Seattle - 28th April
ETA Panama (Flamenco Island Marina) 25th - 27th May

Race 11
Depart Panama (Shelter Bay Marina) - 30th May  (This date is a best estimate as Clipper have no control over the Panama Canal scheduling)
ETA New York 12th - 14th June

Race 12
Depart New York - 20th June
ETA Derry Londonderry (Foyle Marina) 7th - 11th July

Race 13
Depart Derry Londonderry - 17th July
ETA Europe (location TBC) 23rd - 24th July

Race 14
Depart Europe (location TBC) - 28th July
ETA St Katharine Docks 30th July

It has now been confirmed that I will be away for 11 months and will celebrate my birthday during the stopover in Derry Londonderry.  Awesome!!

The other great thing that is taking up my time at the moment is moving house.  23rd July is the date we move, in just over one week's time.  The house we are moving into is probably about half the size of the one we are in now and so serious down-sizing is having to take place.  Every time I open a cupboard I am horrified at what I find there; 18 years worth of 'stuff'.  We have so many possessions, the majority of which haven't been used for years.  The garage if now full of black plastic bags full of bits and pieces to go to charity shops.  A couple of charities are coming to take various bits of furniture, electrics and bags later this week so hopefully by the weekend I will be able to see the garage floor. 

All the toys etc in the cabin have now been packed away into various boxes, some to go into storage, some to colleagues and some to charity.  A massive undertaking made easier with the help of some good friends.  Friends are also helping by taking rubbish to the local tip but now that I have hired a skip things should be easier.

What insane person would try to move house and plan for 11 months at sea at the same time?  No need to answer that!!