Leg 5- race 7 - day 21
Woke at 11.30 just laid in bunk for a while dozing as still felt tired. I am hoping when we get to next way point and turn into land I will pick up reception so I can text the kids xxx
Had a wash down and washed my hair still warm here dreading trying to wash when get into the winter conditions of China ! Probably won't wash baby wipes all the way !
Had 2 cups of fresh coffee,lovely. Noodles for lunch :again !! It's Chinese New Year so Kevin and melody Chinese crew are baking interesting things in the kitchen.
On deck at 3pm : rough seas waves of 5-7metres some as high as 10! With wind speeds up to 40 knots ; bit crazy!!
Carl has been helming a lot and shares it on our watch with Matt and Caroline. Lots of concentration and physical hard work with the rolling seas and gusts of wind. Came down to standby watch at 7pm Kevin had made some Chinese food it was lovely made a change. Got called up on deck at 8pm to help put a reef in. Got soaked again so many waves coming over the boat. Found out that clipper have extended the race further !!! Arhhh madness !! It's because we are not allowed to get into Vietnam before 17th! Such a pity.
Really feel like everyday now is Eat, Sleep, Sail, Repeat !!!! Feeling tired and aching the only place dry to relax is in my bunk and then it's a struggle to get in and out and even remain in it with the boat consistently being thrown about. So why I am doing this??? Oh yes I know ! : an experience firstly going to Australia which was amazing then to sail to Vietnam and onto China. The downside is we could be in Vietnam now as we sailed so fast in the strong winds but we can't ! Bit like circling round Heathrow in a plane waiting to land but conditions aren't the same !!!
Cari and I are on standby watch as I write this. Sitting in wet clothes on top of black sacks on the wet cushions in the galley with our legs wedging us on the seats as the boat rolls from side to side and we hear the contents of draws and cubby holes clutter and crash about. No relaxing tv even drinking a hot drink is a stuggel bit like really bad turbulence in a plane. Went to bed at 11pm absolutely worn out !! Couldn't sleep to much.being thrown about! Up at 3 really gusty on deck with winds yo 50 knots at the of shift did a jibe
313 miles covered :11.1-15.6