A bit of damage was sustained as we stretched the sails, sheets and halyards to their upper limits, but nothing that is not fixable and less than some of the other boats. The medium weight spinnaker landed up in the water a couple of times which got all crew up on deck in the middle of the night, but we were able to retrieve it without too much damage though Neill is having to spend a couple of days trying to mend it before we leave in a few days time.
On a more positive note I never questioned what I was doing and was able to recognise that sailing from London to Australia is something to be proud of. We were able to see the enormous albatross at close quarters as well as many other sea birds, dolphins and a number of whales, one of which swam alongside the boat for a short time. Meals were nearly always delicious and we have all become proficient at baking bread and making cakes while hanging on for 'dear life'.
There was a lot of time for thinking as we stayed on one tack for most of the time and it was family and friends that I missed most. But I think that although I knew that is was going to hard I hadn't appreciated how hard. The ocean seascape goes on for miles and miles, as you would expect, with only the colour of the water and the shape of the swell and waves changing. With the cloud cover that we experienced for most of the journey there was little warmth from the sun and we didn't have the moon and stars to watch and wonder about during the hours of darkness. There were few birds at times and many days when we didn't see any sea life. When we were visited by dolphins and the occasional whale there was great excitement though also disappointment if the creature had vanished before being able to get on deck with a camera at hand.
But what I must remember is that I have sailed across the Southern Ocean for 5,500 miles in a 70 ft yacht and that bar a few minor injuries to different crew members and an ill skipper for part of the Leg we all arrived safely in Australia after 28 days at sea. We didn't come last but 11th this time and it is just our luck that we missed the trip to a local distillery because we didn't achieve 12th place. Our sailing has improved and I am now able to look forward to the next Leg around Australia.
The next part of this adventure takes us from Albany to Sydney, the Sydney-Hobart race and then from Hobart up to Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays, Queensland. We will be crossing the Bass Strait, notoriously known for rough weather and seas, three times, but spending Christmas in Sydney and New Year in Hobart. What more could I ask for!
