Bonus Blog: Stolen from the diary of a crew member

THE FOREDECK.

It’s up to 20 knots, raining, and a few drops have run down the spine. Pitch dark, moon behind storm cloud. Feeling thankful that it is passing.

He:     “We had better gybe, or it will get away from us.”

Thinks: “What is so wrong with that?”

Says:   “Fine with me......”

He:     “Shall I call XXX?”

Thinks: “Yes please.”

Says:   “No – I will do it.....”

Remember the routine. It’s all about the routine. Clip on to the safety line on the high side. Collect the shock chord from the stanchion halfway down the hull. Bring it back and hook it on the operating running back stay.

There. That was easy. Back stays are now some-one else’s problem. Didn’t even get my pants wet.

Back down the high side. Hold clip high to stop it rubbing on the deck. It may wake XXX. He would have something to say – for sure. Weight low down. Crouch – don’t crawl.

Unclip the anti-wrap ghost jib from bottom of mast. Slide forward to clip it to the pole down haul.

He:     “Watch out!”

White water over the foredeck as He puts the nose into a wave. Hold on tight as water drenches any dry parts left on the trousers.

He      “Sorry.”

Thinks: “!@#$%!”

Clip anti wrap to pole down haul, and slide soggy trousers back to mast step.

Remember the routine.

Clip on to the downhill side. Move down to leeward rail. Reach over the side to try and grab the gybe preventer/tack line.

He:     “Watch out!”

While water over the deck again. Clench.

He:     “Sorry.”

Thinks: “!@#$%!”

Gybe preventer in the one hand. Tack line in the other. Undo Tylaska. Clip. Tylaska to guard rail with one hand.  Slide towards boom. Stand using boom for support. Pass gybe preventer behind working sheet, lazy sheet and lazy back stay. Tie gybe preventer to shock chord at goose neck. Sit for a moment at mast step. Double check. Nothing in the way of a gybe. Grab lazy guy from the high side. Stand upright next to mast.

Thinks: “Here we go.”

Says:   (In cool confident tone) “Ready.”

In the office at the back, the tweakers are both at knee height, and the spinnaker load is being carried by the two sheets. Someone starts hauling in the main sail. Someone else releases the operating back stay. Helmsman drives through the gybe. Boom pushes backstay out. New back stay tightened.

He:     “Go!”

Remember the routine.

Wait till old guy goes slack. Unclip pole from mast. Transfer old lazy guy from hand to pole beak. Push pole across and forward. Under the sheet. Clip beak to mast.

Thinks: “Phew!”

Says:   “Made!”

In the office at the back, they start trimming the new guy and the new sheet, and set the pole for the new angle.

Don’t rest on your laurels. Remember the routine. Slide forward on soggy trousers to pole down haul. Unclip wrap preventer. Slide back to mast step and connect to foot of mast. Clip on to the new high side. Grab tack line. Undo Tylaska and feed guy around bow. Clip on to the new downhill side with free hand. Fasten to guard rail. Undo gybe preventer from boom. Gybe preventer in one hand and tack line in the other, undo Tylaska and connect gybe preventer to tack line.

Thinks: “Phew!”

Says:   “Made!”

He:     “Watch out!”

Clench.

He:     “Just kidding..........Sorry.”

Thinks: “!@#$%!”

Sit for a moment to let pulse rate settle and establish cool expression on face.

Up the high side into the cockpit

He:     “The squall is getting away from us – we may have to gybe back.”

Thinks: “!@#$%!  !@#$%!  !@#$%! Make up your mind!”

Says:   “Cool. Ready any time you are.......”