Off to the big bad Southern Ocean......

So the start time is finally fixed and we are off at 0900hrs New Zealand time on Wednesday 18th
Everything is packed here, each day we have been postponed more people disappear and more of the Race Village disappears. While it has definitely been the right decision it is shame that we are not going to get the true spectacle of the crowds coming to wave you off on your merry way, from strangers to family ad friends to shore crew and race crew for me it is a real buzz and really sets the scene to get racing, especially on this Leg. The big Leg the one many people still feels defines the Volvo Ocean Race.
But I am sure glad that we re not heading straight out into Pam she might not look like much these days on the satellite imagery but she looks like a pretty big onion to me!!!
I have about 14 hours until I will be checking out my hotel room and wheeling my kit bag through the Auckland Viaduct to be packed into Air Freight. All the multitude of electronic devices I have to keep in contact with the world outside of the Volvo Ocean Race bubble, and still fail to use enough, are powered down.
In 16hours we throw the lines back and the few remaining people and hopefully a bunch of people in suits who might make the detour on their way to work. I look at the 11 ladies around me who all bring something unique to our incredible team and I  turn to a different electronic device and start the timer of a roughly 20 day experience that I can't even begin to imagine how I will sum it up
The waiting game is interesting when you have such a machine of people involved outside of a sailing dinghy and the 1 or 3 crew I have generally been with. While as a sailor you just get on with it.....hope we don't have to stay on the boat while in dock but it is at these points that you realise how well supported you are. Thank you Team SCA all of you this truly couldn't and wouldn't happen without you, the unsung heroes.

I will also being saying a sad farewell to my other three wheels the Briscoes, but thank you for taking such good care of me and I am fairly sure all the ladies will be thanking you in the first 24hrs as they chow down on their millionaires shortbread!

 

Comments

  1. DrStarkyMarch 17, 2015 at 12:50 AM

    Cool blog Libby. Good luck with this leg.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMarch 17, 2015 at 1:23 AM

    Love that you've made time to write this blog. Gives us a good insite. At least Pam had given you a few days extra to rest before embarking on "THE LEG". Good Luck xxx

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 17, 2015 at 2:43 AM

    Pity you'll be late to Brazil but pleased you're not going to get swept away by Pam. Looking forward to the next adventure - best of luck for the start tonight - we will all be watching x x x

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What time is it........?

What time is it? It's BLOG time Hey hey The blog is back you lucky, lucky people. Grammar, punctuation and spelling mistakes galore, as I head off to the land of Vikings, Trolls, Moomin a lot daylight and no doubt many surprised responses of What time is it?! This time I have the power of 3, not the charmed witches 🧙‍♀️, but my two intrepid running explorers Fi and Lindsey. Willingly (or foolishly) signing up to a marathon in the sun 🌞.........well the midnight sun! Our summer holiday with temperatures not quite so reflective has begun.  Destination: Tromso, Norway.....you may well be putting your geography knowledge to the test and dragging yourself on Google maps to one of the extremities. If in doubt ask my neice Willa  she's really good at geography   Greet by what would probably be described as what passed as the UK winter I felt right at home. With the power of three Lindsey charges ahead with apps for bus tickets while Fi's phone says computer says no and I ...
Read more

Ambling and absorbing

Image
With the power of 3 the faffing and forgetting  time is also somewhat trebled....After scrambled eggs and marmite on toast....yes I brought marmite with us. The cats herded themselves out the door for a coffee still thoroughly confused about what clothing should be worn, as while it isnt the wamest outside they do seem to like to keep the inside at short and tshirt temperatures!!! The appartment upgrade....is an upgrade as its nearer the town centre which is only about 15mins in any direction. If a little cosier, bed sharing required but not all 3 and given we'll be inside a tin can for the rest of the holiday, we are easing ourselves in gently. Sightseeing abound after Fi required a change of clothes having decided to wear her coffee rather than drink it! First up we tested the flat bridge we will be running on tomorrow eeeekkkkk and head over to the Arctic Cathedral. Questioning whether is was steeper on the way there or on the back......is in steeper than the Itchen bridge.....o...
Read more

Things could only get better....

Image
Tap tap..... Hmmmm...... Was that someone knocking on the van? I was half alseep in some wildly crazy vivid dream as we all semi woke up hot as hell to a 'stern' Norwegian lady. Why are you parked in two spaces? Our jaunty angle not sounding so fun I will have to fine you 600 kronas way too early to vaguely contemplate the maths or formulate a response but Lindsey diplomatically replied that it was slmeone elses fault and we will move cue some shuffling around in pyjamas and we were off to the capsite we had spied as we were also reaching a critical situation with toilet onboard. Campsite flakstad was a great location at the other end of the beach and had the toilet emptying facilities but the grumpy man wouldnt let us even pay to do it....day not starti g well. We paused made a cup of tea in bid to improve our day in search of a breakfast spot. I closed the sliding door with the window still open on its hydraulic arms and they detach. So while i climb ...
Read more