The second half of Race 2 in Leg 1 was hard fought but was hampered by light airs and wind-holes.
Heat was a big factor in the second half of the race to Punta del Este, both literally and in terms of the pressure the crew worked under to be in the leading ‘pack’ throughout, having tasted success out front, ahead of the rest of the fleet.
Once out of the Doldrums Corridor skipper Ryan Gibson announced, “We’re sailing again!”
The next stage also brought with it the milestone of crossing the equator. He had an elaborate Neptune's costume - complete with beard, crown and a trident.
The focus then turned to the Ocean Sprint, but despite pushing at 100% the team missed out on extra points, although they had to wait for Punta del Este to discover the results.
In the final stretch down the South American coast the team experienced a wide variety of conditions together with some frustrating wind holes. Here’s an example from the Skipper’s report of 8 October: “In the past 24 hours we've been through some of the most varied weather I've come across while sailing.
“We've ended up having to sail north, south, east and west at times, flown all our available codes, the Yankee 1 and the 3, all the reefs have come in and out at some point and had the wind-blown through from 5 knots regularly up to 35 and then back down again within the space of an hour. The most we saw at one point was 45 knots while we were mid-way through reefing.
“While all that might sound quite daunting, the crew have been incredible through all of it. Aa we sail into the home straight of this race and the first leg, in the lighter spots of wind there has been more time for reflection on just how far everyone has progressed individually, and how we've evolved as a team.”
It’s also worth remembering that ‘an army marches on its stomach’ – a saying reputedly made by Napoleon – emphasising the need for good, tasty, wholesome, food. So Mother Watch and especially work in the galley is just as vital as competent sailing.
Ryan observed: “Within the galley, meals have evolved as we've gone on, and people have gotten more comfortable experimenting and meals that we thought would be low points have become favourites. What was originally sausage and mash, changed into canned beef with potato and then eventually into cottage pie with milk and cheese in the mash on top, a highlight of that week.
“We've changed from thinking we don't have time to bake bread at the start, to baking three to sometimes five loafs a night, and now even people are baking their local variants on things - a particular shout out goes to Bobby who made an incredible, soft local bread, with feta cheese in it.
“On deck… it's been incredibly heartwarming to watch it all develop, and rewarding to see our efforts pay off with our placing within the fleet, every mile has been fought for by everyone.”
Crew blogs endorsed these challenges. Sean McPartland talked about the relentless rhythm of racing across an ocean and the unbearable heat. Approaching Brazil he wrote: “The last land we saw was Fuerteventura. Since then we have passed the Scoring Gate and endured some intense heat both above deck and below. Sleeping has been difficult at the best.
“The crew are in good fettle, although a bit battered and bruised, spirits are high, and the camaraderie is good.”
Before signing off Sean passed on a short note from Bertie the Birstwith School Bear: "What an adventure I am having kids, the ocean life is the life for me. I met with King Neptune a few days ago as we crossed the equator. So finally, my lifelong ambition of becoming a shellback has come true. Keep supporting us."
The heat dominated conversation. “It ain’t half hot mum,” stated David Holmes (The title of a vintage comedy series set in the tropics). “It’s so warm I’m starting to sweat through my teeth. Our living quarters resemble the fever-smitten back streets of nineteenth-century urban Britain with all the associated smells…
The description of crew attire, or lack of it, is not for the squeamish: “The crew are letting themselves go, especially Griet, and the crew dress code falls well below Clipper standards, and those set by our scantily clad skipper. There is a broad array of underwear colours and styles openly on display, some so buttock-clenching obscene laws should be passed to prevent the wearing of such garments... Indeed, I have just seen Belgium Bob walking around in a tight pair of mustard-coloured briefs, a pair of knee pads, and back support – an image that’s sure to scar me for the remainder of my days…In all seriousness, we have weathered the discomfort of the doldrums well.”
Gary Venturi added to the commentary: “As a Scotsman, prolonged periods of relentless and inescapable high temperatures are my kryptonite. I’ve lost count of the days now that I’ve spent permanently sheened in sweat and sun cream. The only options are frying and scorching in the direct sun on deck or sweltering and boiling below in the slightly higher heat and 80% humidity.”
So you can imagine the huge relief brought by a squall and fresh ‘shower’ water. Gary said: “The heat leads me to describe the joy of my first boat shower. Trunks, towel, and shower gel to the stern. Limitless buckets of cool seawater emptied over my burning head and back before a good soapy scrub. A bucket of fresh was my rinsing ration and I felt like a new man for a few hours before the heat won out again.
“The clean clothes seemed like a mistake later though as we entered the Doldrums Corridor to be greeted by a lengthy squall. Rain so dense it seemed to alter the light and flatten the sea drenched us, but the relief and extra cleanliness were welcome, and the mainsail and boom created a very effective deluge shower for 15 or so minutes.”
We’ll leave the last word from the closing stage of Leg 1 to the Skipper: “Think it's fair to say we all look forward to the stopover in Punta now, and I certainly look forward to a surf with the local hero Nano and a big local BBQ he has been promising for a while now, Vamos Punta!”