Australia has always been one of the places I was looking forwards to visit on the race. I've never really travelled before, apart from Europe with work, so traveling to all these amazing places around the world is one of the best aspects about the Clipper Race.
For the Australian leg, we raced from Albany to Sydney, then competed in the prestigious Rolex Sydney Hobart Race, which would take us down to Tasmania, the furthest point away from home and from there, we raced back north up to Brisbane.
The leg initially had the good aspect of short races on the boat. The previous races have been 2-4 week stints, so the thought of getting on for 3-10 days felt good - how wrong was I!
So Race 5 took us from Albany to Sydney. We would dive south, round Tasmania and up past the Bass Straight to Sydney. Race starts are always hectic. Twelve 70ft raving yachts battling for position on a start line, then all heading for a mark to turn on makes for very close racing. I was on the bow of our boat trimming the head sails as we approached the first mark. PSP Logistics and Switzerland were above us as we closed in on the turn. Our angle to the wind was very tight and it would be close as although we were ahead, the other boats we taking over us. As we got closer and closer, all three boats converged and the skippers started shouting for room. As PSP crossed in front of us, we lost wind in our sails and ended up rounding up straight into the back of their boat. Stood on the bow I had full view of our bow sprit crash into their boat and eventually snap off.
This was an amazing sight, and certainly one I will never forget. Both boats were called back for repairs as the rest of the fleet headed off shore. Both skippers blamed each other, but as in all sports, off the pitch the crews were friendly with each other and we enjoyed a steak dinner and set off the next day.
We still raced the course as we thought we could catch the back markers, so this meant a full on, hard grind of a race. Setting off a day late, we arrived in view of the Sydney Hadbour Bridge and the famous Opera house an hour behind the back markers. A true testament to how fast we are.
The incident went to an international jury and unfortunately it was decided we were in the wrong and we were disqualified from the race and lost two points for the damage. This was devastating and had a large impact on our championship standing.
We didn't let it get us down and re-grouped ready for the Hobart Race. For those not familiar with Sailing, the Sudbey Hobart is a very big event. It's live on Australian TV and attracts many professional crews and large 100ft super maxi yachts.
The Clipper Fleet would be competing against some of the best yachts around, but I was realistic about our chances. Our boats are designed to sail around the world. We carry kit to ensure we can get through hurricanes in the southern ocean, and keep 20 crew happy and fed for up to five weeks. The other yachts are stripped out sprint machines so its not really a fair contest.
The race start was again incredible. Ninety four yachts lined up in the harbour waters and raced across the star lines before turning right and out off shore. Helicopters were flying around, the shores were lined with people and the atmosphere was amazing.
We needed to push hard in this race so we specialised on board. I was in the helm team so completed two hours on and four hours off for the duration of the trip. The race was tough with big waves and high winds, but with all the effort the team out in we crossed the line in 2nd in our class. What a result.
Hobart was a nice place and we took some time out to relax. We went to a nature park and fed kangaroos and saw Wombats and Tasmanian Devils. It was so strange to see an animal you've never seen before! We celebrated the new year in board watching the fireworks over the bay. It was such a symbolic time as Hobart is the furthest stopover from home. The new year would bring the start of the race back to England, albeit heading north for a couple of months before turning East again.
By the time of the race up to Brisbane the toll on the crew was starting to show. The problem with these short races is that you never get settled into a routine on the boat. It usually takes 4-4 days to settle into the watch pattern. In these 4-5 days you have little sleep but on the longer legs you generally have a lower, less stressful workload. The short sprints meant the workload was very high so we were all broken.
We raced as hard as we could up to Brisbane saying goodbye to the Southern Ocean for good. Mistakes were made by the skippers navigation and the crews performance so we placed in 5th. We've all got off the boat tired, sore and in need of some well deserved rest.
Luckily in Brisbane I booked an apartment on the Internet. The price looked cheap for the quality I saw in the pics, so assumed the pictures were the suites and we would be in a back room somewhere. However we arrived and the place is amazing! I'm currently sat on a comfy sofa, the flat screen TV is on. My girlfriend is in the power shower and we have just cooked up some eggs for breakfast. If you remember from my first blog, I discussed how un-important these things are. The experience of being out travelling is the greater thing, which I still standby, but I can't lie. After 20,000 miles of ocean racing this is bliss!
Although we didn't get the the results we wanted, we all learnt some very important lessons in these races. As they were all so short, they all came down I how many mistakes you made. Being on the helm requires discipline and commitment. Just like driving, the way you go fast is to concentrate on every corner. When I drive the Nurburgring, there is one corner in particular where these two items show themselves the most. As you exit Aremburg, the track heads downhill to a left hand turn at Fuchsrhore with a short straight before a sharp left turn at Adenhour Forst.
To be fast on the track you have to keep you foot down all the way through the left hander let the car settle in the shortest distance before hitting the brakes hard before the hard left. The is very little run off and due to the trees the track has verying levels of grip in all three corners.
You need the discipline to not think about the dangers, not think about if a tyre pops, if the car breaks loose or any of the other items that could happen. You just need to focus on the corner, take your line and commit to it. If you don't, you're slow.
On the boat, you have to do the same. It's pitch black, you have a large sail plan and the wind is high. You have to find the surfs. Jump onto them and go with it. You'll be going along at 20knots and the temptation is to steer out, thinking of the dangers, the "what ifs", but to be fast you have to commit and go for it. I feel this is why we know we are a fast boat because everyone on board has the discipline to commit. It's a lesson all people should take away from this.
We now head north again to Singapore and I'm really looking forwards to seeing a new country and culture. We have a four week race, with a break in the middle to motor though a pirate zone. As we approach the tropics again, the heat and humidity will rise and life on board will be hot and sweaty again. But after months of thermals and foulies, the thought of being on deck in shorts and t-shirts at anytime of day will be amazing.
I read a quote on the Internet the other day which said "I wished I'd never gone travelling, is a quote no one has said, ever". I have found this to be so true. Being deaf sucks, but it doesn't stop you doing everything. Deaf or not, if you make a plan, commit and have the discipline to do it, anyone can do anything.
