First Notes from the boat

Hello and a warm welcome to the blog of my small adventure.
well, I've luckily been writing this blog from the boat, sailing in the
channel and Biscay Bay between UK and France:) exciting!
Unfrtunately the blog you're readig is the second one, after loosing the
first on to system abnormaities (not so exciting)

several notes before the story:
Please excuse the spelling from now on, the waterproof keyboard forces
very istakes (an slow writing), the mail access is limited, and so is
the time to rest. So as fatigue creps n on th folloing days, or weather
detoriates, you will be exposed to a "words" puzzle rather than a
letter, it looks like.

I have to admit that I'm so very happy to be finally off sailing.
Clipper Race start has been celebrated as a huge event in Hull, combined
with the Hull festival and accompanied by wonderful (for UK conditions,
miracolous) weather. Hull Marina had been buzzzzziiinnngggg with both
locals and with spectators coming to watch The Start.

We moved Cape Breton Island (the boat, not the landscape:) ) from Hull
marina to Albert docks on Saturday, to have an easy exit for the start.
There were a few moments to rememer:
the marina was still surraounded by a ring of spectators at almost
midnight, and they waved us goodbye, sentimental moments, preparing us
for what was to come on the following day.
Another moment to remember was the sight of Hull, the modern aquarium
building standing out in its beauty, the pavements at the waterfront lit
up by torches and fires, and a weak-orange moon rising slowly on it
all... what a sight...

This was all only a preparation for the Start. The Start was absolutely
sectacular. Each tam was introduced on stage to a cheering crowd. Then
as we moved to our boats, an amazing flight show was staged with the air
squats. when we left the docks for the start, we were cheered by
thousands (tens of thousands actually). The whole waterfront and
rivershore as far as we could see, was completely covered with
supporters cheering, waving, and wishing us good luck.. We were escorted
by Navy Ships as a fleet, and waved good-bye to all. The scene falshed
back the memory of a year ago, the finish of 07-08 race in Liverpool. I
was among the crowd waving welcome to the racers, imagining what it
would be like for me, once I was on-board sailing off. Well, time flies.
Here I was waving goodbye, moved by the intensity of the moment, with a
few butterflies in my stomach, and a strange sense of reservness. My
little moments of fame...

coming onto the race, we culd not be luckier about the weather. 20-30
knots, N-NE meaning it would blow from behind, 1-2m waves, pushing us to
our destination nicely. Not too light, not too hard either to start out
with.

We started the race in the 4th position, and have ben keeping our
positio in between 3r and 5th throughout yesterday an today. Great
to be sailing against identitical boats, being able to watch the
perfrmance

High points in the trip:
5-6 hours of helming, first with a beam reach, then with the spinnaker.
It was heavenly to surf on the waves, feel the immense power of the
nature. Personal speed score: 16.4knts! this is the fastest seed I have
travelled to in any boat. Awsome!
Trimming the spinnaker at night, when it ws blowig 30-35 knots. The
power on the spinnaker was like no other (imagine holding the momentum
that speeds 35 tons to 15 knots). And looking at a background of
millions of starts while watching the sails, thinkng that we always kill
the beauty of the real lights while shining through with our own.
Low points: We had 6 peole suffering sea sickess heaviy. Poor guys... I
had a share of the situation by cleaning sails after one of them could
not hold it any more and threw up. OK, that was not as bad as I thught
it would be, I suppose we come to our senses when something needs
doing...

I'm now on my mother watch, meaning I have no shifts, but have to
keep the boat tidy and clean, and cook all that's to be eatn. Duty
calls, I have to make my move now.

Keep an eye on me:)