After a long and challenging leg, James shares insights the North Pacific crossing

13 April

Teeth.

The boat has teeth.

We all know, as a number of us have “boat bites”.

Sailors through the centuries have known this. And just like Mother Nature, boats can be red in tooth and claw.

Certainly red as a number of us have spilled a drop or two of blood in various parts. Now this sounds worse than it is – these are the niggling little injuries you pick up as you work around the boat.  A scratch here, a cut there. Stumble and a bruise appears. Play on the foredeck and waves can help you meet all sorts of hardware.

Even the companionway ladder has a few sharp edges for those that miss their footing or slip. I am one of several with healing cuts on the ring or little finger of one hand or the other from this. I’ll spare you the pictures this time.

We’ve lost one crewman to a fall and an injured shoulder, but got to meet the Japanese Coast Guard. He’s on the mend and I must thank him for the neoprene gloves he left for me to try – they’ve helped keep things a little drier and warmer than they would otherwise have been.

This is one of the curses of a boat bite – cuts and scrapes take a lot longer to heal as they get soggy on watch and it does feel like two steps forward, one back at times. An extensive medical kit on board is a real help.

We continue to press on with high spirits, cold hands and feet, and some good speed. A bit of luck and we will press forward in the fleet.

More on life on board soon. Our next big event is crossing the International Date Line and re-living the same day twice – our own groundhog day, and something we are all curious to see how it goes.

Until next time, stay safe.

James A.

11 April

All hail the Mighty North Pacific!

Well, almost all hail, some snow, sleet and rain. The spindrift doesn’t count.

Yes, it has become a little colder as we race downwind on increasingly large rollers. We’ve hit 22 knots on a surf but a little way to go to break the current Imagine your Korea record of 29. Watching the boat surf and rise on the back of a large wave, to see the surface ahead at least 4 metres below is quite a sight. More of a surprise in the dark as we have been mostly cloud bound. Rogue waves have hit us a couple of times in the dark, and even as the day breaks. Tons of water over the side seemingly lasting ages although it is only a few seconds.

Imagine your Korea is pushed around like you would a toy in the bath.

At least we have the gear to wear for the conditions and hot drinks to help with the cold hands. We would point out, with video and picture evidence, that the AQP’s peach shorts are not his colour…