We exited the Doldrums. Not as well as we expected but in a good position and we can’t complain. Some boats had the wrong clouds and lost a lot. The Doldrums are never fair for everyone. But for the Volvo Ocean Race 2018 the Doldrums are finished!
And now we are back in our “office;” the North Atlantic and his Trade Winds. Now it’s a long speed run for us for the next few days - slaloming along between all the weeds. Catching weeds on the appendages is really bad for performance. Yesterday, I had to dive to take something off. At high speed, we catch less but every 30 minutes we check all the appendages.
Being back in the north Atlantic it makes me think about on all that we have done to be back here. So much happened during the last months. Some highs, some lows. Lots of lows where you think ‘why am I here again?…Never again!’ Of course, I know I am lucky to be sailing with this team. And I have worked very hard to be here.
But this is the Volvo Ocean Race: a magic race and adventure, and the toughest offshore race and the longest competition in sport. Nine months of battling on the water, nine months of pressure and the stress of competition. There are, of course, some fantastic emotions but also some tough moments. The tough moments are when you want to give up. But you can’t. You would probably do it if you were not on a boat in the middle of the ocean.
That moment in the Southern Ocean when you are cold and exhausted and someone comes to wake you up to gybe. You get out of the bunk, put on your full weather gear and go out into the cold and then move 100 kilos of sails under hundreds liters of water on the deck.
But you have no choice and you go past your limits.
You are in a team and this team needs you.
Charles
