Hobart to Airlie Beach
It is incredible how quickly the tough bits of a race are forgotten when conditions become benign and pleasant.
Race start in Hobart was exciting as the boats jockeyed for position on the start line. We still had Martin as our skipper and his philosophy is to stand back, get clean air and take a run up to the line. It has meant that we are usually last over the line, but when there are over 1600 miles to go a couple of minutes shouldn't really matter. Or does it?
The scenery going east and north from Hobart was stunning with tall cliffs of columnar dolorite all along the south coast. As the wind picked up the seas became rougher and the boat heeled over further. Unfortunately there are lots of leaks from the deck fittings and conditions down below became quite uncomfortably wet. Five of the six cave lockers around my bunk filled up with water on a regular basis and had to be emptied along with the bilges - not easy when I had to clamber up onto the top bunk with bucket, scoop and sponge as we heeled over at 45 degrees in the wrong direction.
Conditions up on deck were wet and cold and I was able to get out the dry suit I had bought from Eddie when he left the boat at the end of Leg 3. Getting in and out of it wasn't easy but I think it will get easier as time goes on. Wearing it also gave me the confidence to go up onto the foredeck for the first time, though I am not sure how much use I was.
By the time we got parallel with northern New South Wales the days became drier and sunnier and with a following wind we were able to fly the spinnaker most of the time. Conditions on the boat improved and the wet and rainy days were forgotten as temperatures rose, fewer clothes had to be donned and getting up on deck didn't seem to take as much effort. The Australian coastline is stunning and it has been a real privilege to witness what few have seen. A few mishaps with various sails meant we slipped back in the fleet but at the end of the race we came in seventh which is probable where we belong - about mid fleet. The challenge is going to be to stay there when Jim comes back for the next Leg up to Da Nang.
My experience of Cloughy as our Skipper has been very positive. He has taught us a great deal technically and has lead us into a position where we are not last on the points table. He has lead by example and can be seen up on the foredeck helping with sail changes or down in the sail locker wooling spinnakers. He talks to everyone and doesn't seem to have favourites or to shy away from answering questions or discussing the weather and preferred tactics. Cloughy is a racing Skipper and
I am not sure Jim is. The bottom line is though is that Jim is coming back for the next Leg up to
China and we need, as a crew, to move forwards and deal with that decision. I think our position on
the finishing line will give a good indication of how it has been so let's wait and see.
All the boats got up to Airlie Beach in good time and arrived a couple of days earlier than expected. This has meant an eight day stopover, so a good break before we move onto the next race. Our welcome from the local community has been warm and generous and the stunning weather and sea scape is making it a stopover to remember.
I am sharing an apartment with three others, a fifteen minute walk from the marina, and close enough to the restaurants and bars in town to make walking home after a night out the preferred way of travel. There is a pool in the complex, a lovely place to wind down in after a day on the boat trying to get maintenance sorted, or,as this morning, somewhere to take that early morning swim.
I am going to sign off now by saying thank you for all your support and do continue to keep in touch.
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