Dave Harries, 17-18 RTW

Welcome to the latest in an ongoing series of guest posts from my fellow 17-18 Clipper Race crewmates and current 15-16 crew members! This is a chance for them to tell you all a little bit about themselves, why they chose to sign up for Clipper, and share some of their experiences.  Keep an eye on this space - there are THREE more in the works already!

Now, over to Dave Harries who will be sailing RTW in the 17-18 race - enjoy!

Hi! Why am I writing here, well Caitlin asked me to write a guest blog. I’m Dave, and will be doing the full circumnavigation in Clipper Round the World Race in 2017/18. I work in the oil industry and have recently returned to the UK after 3 years working mainly in Saudi Arabia but also Dubai, Qatar, Kuwait, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and South Korea (absolutely loved South Korea, fantastic food and the people were so friendly). It seems so long ago now, but I was following the 2013/14 Race online from Saudi Arabia, via race viewer and several Facebook groups and also reading Team Spirit, written by Brendan Hall, the winning skipper of the 09/10 Race onboard Spirit of Australia. I would highly recommend reading this book, not just for those considering taking part in the Race but also those already signed up for the Race. Anyway, early in 2014 I took the plunge and applied. Why apply for the Race? I didn’t want to get to 70 or 80 years of age and think “what if…”, so applied and somehow got accepted. I decided to do round the world, as I knew I would find it incredibly difficult to leave the boat after doing 1 or 2 legs. I enjoy pushing myself, the week after my interview I was taking part in the London to Brighton ultramarathon. The Race will help push the limits of what I am capable of. It’s not just the challenge of taking on Mother Nature with the ocean crossings but also getting on with my crewmates and dealing with the inevitable arguments that will arise from being in a confined space. And asmuch as I love cooking, I’ve never tried cooking on a bucking bronco leaning over at silly angles, so that’ll be umm interesting lol. As for sailing background, inspections onboard oil tankers doesn’t really count lol Once I’d been accepted onto the Race I did the RYA Crew Competency course off the Pembrokeshire coast in South West Wales. This was great fun and helped give a good grounding in points of sail and some of the knots used (especially the all-important bowline lol). This was a great way of getting experience and confidence onboard, albeit a much smaller yacht. As good as the crew competency course was, it doesn’t really prepare you for life onboard a Clipper yacht. Level 1 training in September 2015 out of Gosport was great fun, even if we didn’t have as much wind as we’d hoped for. At least it was a ‘gentle’ introduction to taking it in turns cooking for everybody onboard and some of the day-to-day aspects of sailing the boat, just think cleaning out the bilges. The training involves a lot of learning by repetition, from the knots involved, again the bowline (you’ll be doing lots and lots of those) as well as the round turn and 2 half hitches (that’ll keep your bunk at the right angle lol) to sail changes, anchoring an man overboard exercises. Although there were only 8 of us onboard for level 1 training, you get a good sense of how cramped it would be with a full crew onboard, and how difficult it could be moving around, walking over the sails just to get to your bunk (that’s were having a waterproof bag comes in handy to leave your stuff in, dropping wet gear down, something will always get the bunks wet). One word of advice, get involved with everything and ask questions, we were lucky on level 1 with 2 previous race skippers onboard (1 of whom is now the skipper onboard Team ClipperTelemed+), so there were lots of questions not just on the sailing aspect but also kit and what to expect on different legs. One thing you’ll definitely get involved with is the deep clean at the end, the more people doing it the sooner it gets done. Our incentive was to book a table at the pub for a final meal that wasn’t onboard the boat (plus a few climbed the mast too). The big surprise for me during level 1 training was how much drinking was involved, and how it’s not much fun being on the grinders with a hangover! lol Roll on Level 2 training in May 2016.

The bunks, sails and rope locker

Sunrise in Gosport

Sunset on the Solent

Debbie Porter, 15-16 Legs 1 & 2

Welcome to the latest in an ongoing series of guest posts from my fellow 17-18 Clipper Race crewmates and current 15-16 crew members! This is your chance to learn a bit more about them and why they signed up for Clipper, hear about their experiences, and benefit from some of their hot tips for training and kit. Keep an eye on this space - I have another FOUR in the works already! 

Now, over to Debbie Porter who sailed Legs 1 & 2 with GREATBritain in the 15-16 race - enjoy!

It’s very hard to believe that it is three years since I made the decision to join the 15/16 Clipper Race but I can honestly say, despite all the angst and second thoughts and worries along the way, it is the best decision I have ever made.

I’d known about Clipper for a while having being taught to sail in Gibraltar years ago by one of the current skippers – Darren from IchorCoal – but never seriously thought it was something that I could do as a very amateur sailor. However, I work for the Government and was invited to the dinner launching the last GREAT boat in 13/14. Seated between two members of staff from Clipper, I had no chance once they found out that I sailed and by the end of the dinner I was signed up!

For me, Clipper was about a number of things. I wanted to take a break from my life to take stock and have a proper gap to really think about what I wanted to do next in my career and general life. As a close friend of mine said ‘it’s hard to think about your life when you’re in your life’ and there is nothing like staring out at an endless horizon of sea to help give you perspective on things. I also wanted to become a better sailor. I had done some RORC racing but really wanted to challenge myself and a couple of ocean crossings seemed a good way to do that so I signed up for Legs 1 and 2.

So the three things I wished I’d known before I set sail? First, all the things that I worried about ended up not being problems at all. Yes, you face challenges, things you might not want to do, things that might scare you but once you are out there on your boat and there is only yourself and your team to rely on, you will be amazed what you can do without thinking. Secondly, your team are the most important part of the boat. It is your team that get you through – when there is a bit of a breeze on (ahem) you all need to pull together; when you’re becalmed and it’s hot and sticky you need to hold your tongue and support each other even when someone is irritating; and when you need a hug it will be your crew mates that you will be turning to. And hopefully at some point it will be those lovely crew mates standing next to you grinning ear to ear on the podium! Learn about yourself and what’s annoying, make a point of understanding first when someone seems annoying to you – it is your team that will get you through and they will become your best friends. Finally, I wish I had known how hot it would be on Leg 1. On a hot leg it is like a sauna down below and it can be very difficult to sleep – make sure you take a silk liner as well as that super thick ocean sleeping bag!

In terms of training: it is excellent and make the most of it.  I found level 1 very difficult and a bit of a shock to the system, others found the same. Even if you have sailed before you are learning a whole new way of doing things and the scale makes it 10 times harder. But stick with it and it gets easier. Take the chance to make friends – these are the same people you will be having fun with in port and it’s great to know people on other boats and to compare experiences. Also use the training to try out different bits of kit – don’t  buy loads at once as it may not work for you (merino makes me itch!) and buy your boots close to the end of your training as they will get a hammering at sea! Level 4 was the best training as it was the closest to the final experience and starts to awaken everyone’s competitiveness!

I’ve been asked for kit recommendations a number of times. The best thing I took was a hand held fan that cost about £3 and was the source of much jealousy on Leg 1 as it least moved the air around by my face. My other top tip is to seal your knickers in plastic sandwich bags! The lockers are often full of water (sorry but they are!) and there is nothing worse than wet pants! If they are sealed in a bag you know they will be dry (and also which ones are clean!)

Finally, I’ve been asked what my funniest moment was on board. It’s hard to say really there were so many. But, as ever, the misfortune of others makes us all laugh. Cut to my crew laughing their heads off as I was totally swamped by a wave only 2 minutes after coming up on deck in new dry gear! Or the flying fish to the shoulder blades that happened to numerous crew. My watch leader’s favourite moment was when he asked me to put a compass reading of 370 degrees in the log – took a few moments to remember it only goes to 360!

So there we are – Clipper in a few words. My main advice - just enjoy every moment! Because before you know it someone will be asking you to write a blog about your experiences and you won’t be able to believe that is all over!

• Debbie Porter 

https://www.facebook.com/debbie.porter.7796

Around the world in 80 animals - Orcas

Despite their ominous sounding nickname, I really hope I get to see Orca (Killer) whales in the wild. They have a really large range so there's a chance I'll get to see them in almost of my Legs!

Orca fast facts

A.k.a: Killer whales
Type: Mammal
Diet: Carnivore (including marine mammals such as seals, sea lions, and even whales. They are also known to grab seals right off the ice, and eat fish, squid, and seabirds
Average life span in the wild: 50 to 80 years
Size: 23 to 32 ft (7 to 9.7 m)
Weight: Up to 6 tons (5,443 kg)
Group name: Pod

Size relative to a bus:

Did you know? Killer whales hunt in deadly pods, family groups of up to 40 individuals

Did you know? They use echolocation to communicate and hunt, making sounds that travel underwater until they encounter objects, then bounce back, revealing their location, size, and shape

Did you know? Killer whales are protective of their young, and other adolescent females often assist the mother in caring for them

Sandra Squire, 17-18 Leg 8

Welcome to the third in an ongoing series of guest posts from my fellow 17-18 Clipper Race crewmates and current 15-16 crew members! This is a chance for them to tell you all a little bit about themselves, why they chose to sign up for Clipper, and share some of their experiences.  Keep an eye on this space - I have another FIVE in the works already!

Now, over to Sandra Squire who will be sailing Leg 8 in the 17-18 race - enjoy!

Hi,

I’m Sandra, I’m a 40-something year old married Mum of 2 boys, currently aged 6 & nearly 9. We live in West Norfolk, although I originally hail from Hertfordshire. I’m a local Borough Councillor and hopefully by the start of the 2017-2018 race I will also be a County Councillor. I was elected for the first time in May 2015 and am enjoying the ups and downs of political life. I’m signed up to do Leg 8, the homecoming (glory) leg in June/July 2018.

So you might be forgiven for wondering why on earth I’d be wanting to leave my family and go off sailing the ocean on a 70ft racing yacht with about 20 other like minded, crazy people.  Well, there’s no one simple answer, it’s a combination of things.

Way back in 1999 I broke my back, which does change your life quite significantly. I was very lucky and have recovered fully, with a fierce determination to prove that I can do anything I choose to do. 11 weeks after my breaking my back I went travelling around Alaska for 6 weeks alone, against doctors advice. You’re getting some idea of my personality now?!

I thrive on challenges; I don’t like heights – so in 2011 I abseiled down a lighthouse raising money for the RNLI while doing so. To date, that is the most frightening thing I’ve ever done!

Both of my sons have Autism, which brings with it numerous challenges. We’ve seen prejudices and ignorance regularly, done battle with schools about support or progress and generally developed a very tough skin with the ability and willingness to face down anything or anyone. So I went into politics, it seemed a natural progression!

When you listen to people talk about Autism, it is the disability that is seen above everything else. The focus is always on what they can’t do and what they find difficult and not on what they can do, or the simple beauty of truly having no idea and not caring what other people think.  As an overweight, stay at home Mum, I want to prove to my boys that anything is possible. That ordinary people can do extraordinary things and that if they really want them, and are willing to work hard for them, their dreams can become reality. 

I’ve always wanted to learn how to sail, but never really got round to it. So when we moved to Norfolk, half an hour from the coast, I took my chance & had some lessons, followed by a course. A few months later, we bought our first boat on a whim - a 16ft cutter rigged dinghy. I had to get the harbour master to rig it, as I hadn’t got a clue where to start!

It was while I was flicking through the RYA magazine when recovering from pneumonia in 2015 that I came across an advert for the Clipper Race. It was interesting enough to make me look at their website, and that was interesting enough to make me fill in the form. Which inevitably led to an interview in Gosport, which is quite a day trip from Norfolk! 

Fast forward seven months and I’m in the gym 4 days a week and practicing knots blindfolded (sorry Caitlin!), I’ve got my first week’s training booked for over Easter and my son’s school friends tell him that he’s got a really cool Mum!

I’m raising money for four local Norfolk causes so hopefully I can do my challenge, inspire my kids and raise lots of money for some causes very close to my heart, all while meeting some amazing fellow crew and making some really good friends. Why would I not want to do it?

So why Leg 8?  Well, I can’t realistically be away from my family for 11 months and I was torn between Leg 1 or Leg 8.  Partly as it would save money on flights and partly because it would mean departing or returning to the home port in front of a home crowd. So I eventually settled on Leg 8. But if say a well known chocolate manufacturer that uses purple packaging were to see their way to sponsoring me to do Leg 1 as well, of course I’d be very grateful…… :)

• Sandra Squire

www.sandrasquire.com  

Clipper is FUN! (trust me, I'm crazy)

So I know a lot of you out there think I must be pretty crazy for wanting to get on an ocean racing yacht, cram myself in with 21 other people, and make a mad dash around the world in some of the most extreme weather conditions imaginable...

Okay, I'm  not going to even attempt to deny I am at the very least a little mad.

BUT! It isn't all freezing waves crashing overhead in the middle of the night and pasta, pasta, and more pasta. In the 13-14 Clipper Race, singing seemed to become something of an epidemic.

Yes, I did say singing epidemic. Also dancing. So far I have managed to track down two separate crews who not only had a bit of cabin fever, but felt the need to film and share the resulting madness.

Luckily for them, it makes some fantastic viewing - enjoy!

GREAT Britain - It’s Always a Good time
For some reason I can't embed this video, but it is totally worth watching, and the song has now become my go-to Clipper song if I need a bit of Clipper fun injecting into my day.

The Derry-LondonDerry-Doire crew singing 'Happy' just epitomises the joyful community spirit on board.


Are there others out there? Let me know!! Suggestions for the 17-18 singing epidemic are also welcome.

All tied up in knots Part 2: Forwards, backwards and upside down

Knots seem to be plotting together to try and take over my life. 

Now that I've mastered them in the comfort of my own home where I can take my time over getting them just so, they have been whispering to me that I need to be able to do them faster, at all sorts of strange angles, and equally well with my left hand as my right. 

Hmm.

The results have been mixed so far - figure of eights, reefs, bowlines, round turn and two half hitches, clove hitches,  and admiralties all seem fine with my left, but left-handed single and double sheets are eluding me. I seem to end up in a ridiculous tangle whenever I try and my right hand keeps having to come to the rescue.

I heard mutterings about blindfold knot tying tests next...I fear a mutiny is in the making.

Round turn and two half hitches

Admiralty

Rolling hitch

Charlotte Willis, 15-16 Legs 7&8

This is the latest in a series of guest posts from some of my fellow 17-18 crewmates and the current 15-16 crew in which they tell us a little about themselves, their Clipper experiences so far, and pass on any hot tips.

Over to Charlotte Willis, Legs 7&8 with the Garmin crew in Clipper Race 15-16 - enjoy! 

Why Clipper Race Legs 7 & 8?

For me, I could only ever do a part of the race due to the time required off work so the whole circumnavigation wasn't an option for me. I originally just signed up to do Leg 8 for two main reasons - one, because I wanted to sail across the Atlantic, and two, because I'm a born and bred Londoner and I wanted to sail home. So Leg 8 suited me perfectly! But then I started my training, and once you start to meet other clipper crew, the buzz about the Race is just infectious and I instantly knew I needed to do more than just one leg. By this point, the majority of the legs for the 15-16 race we full though so I requested that I be added to the waiting list for Leg 7 which Clipper did. I was told I was second on the list so assumed that a place would never come up,  but then two legs into the Race, it did! So of course I accepted and I now cannot wait to start my adventure in Seattle instead! And it also means I get to travel through the Panama Canal which will be amazing!

Any hot training or kit tips for future crew?

Spend money on the important technical clothing which will mean you stay as dry and as temperature controlled as possible. But then for the thermals, the base-layers, the fleeces, the mid-layers, etc. re-use as much stuff as you might already have for skiing or other sports. And most importantly, don't buy everything up front; you'll learn what you actually need (and it's surprisingly little when you're living in the same clothes for days on end) as you go through your training. There's a strict weight limit on board each boat during the Race so get used to packing only the essentials. And put everything in waterproof bags - the boats leak once they've been thrashed around at sea for a while! 

What's the best/worst thing about not joining the crew until Seattle?

The worst is the FOMO (fear of missing out)! I've got to know my Skipper and team mates really well though pre-race Clipper events, a team-bonding weekend, training, and race prep activities. So I feel very much a part of the team, except I'm not actually on the boat yet. So whilst the crew on board do the actual sailing, the rest of us crew back home waiting to join have become a bit of a support group for each other - constantly chatting on social media, meeting up for drinks, hourly race following (and shared conversations dissecting every small bit of the race as well as the other teams) and we've even got to know other crew members friends and family too as we're all supporting the same team. So the best bit is the cameraderie amongst the remaining crew and supporters, and the bonds we've formed. And probably the sheer excitement of counting down day by day until it's my turn! 

What was your funniest moment in training?

There are way too many :) People getting things wrong, stories of snoring and/or sleep-talking, extreme situations which aren't hilarious at the time but all form great stories after they're done... Just generally getting to share this experience with such a random and diverse but like-minded group of people who are all a bit bonkers but all there because they want to do the same thing you do. And whilst most people's friends and families think we're all mad to do something like the Clipper Race, us crew just 'get it'. I have made friends for life along my Clipper journey so far. 

• Charlotte Willis 

https://clippercharlotte.wordpress.com/ 

Around the world in 80 animals - Coral

A few days ago the 15-16 Clipper Race passed through the Coral Sea at the start of Race 7 in Leg 5 and it got me thinking - coral might look like they're just pretty rocks, but actually they are incredibly sensitive and delicate animals. I can't wait to encounter them when I'm down under!

Coral fast facts

Type: Invertebrate
Diet: Carnivore (While corals get most of their nutrients from the byproducts of the algae's photosynthesis, they also have barbed, venomous tentacles they can stick out, usually at night, to grab zooplankton and even small fish)
Average life span in the wild: Polyp, 2 years to hundreds of years; colony, 5 years to several centuries
Size: Polyp, 0.25 to 12 in (0.63 to 30.5 cm)
Group name: Colony
Protection status:  Endangered
Size relative to a tea cup:

Did you know? Coral polyps are tiny, soft-bodied organisms related to sea anemones and jellyfish. At their base is a hard, protective limestone skeleton called a calicle, which forms the structure of coral reefs

Did you know? Coral polyps are actually translucent animals. Reefs get their wild hues from the billions of colorful zooxanthellae algae they host

Did you know? Corals are so sensitive to climatic change that scientists study coral reef fossils to construct highly detailed chronologies of prehistoric climate patterns