The UK has had a glorious week of weather! Waking to blue sky every day is such a joy and  certainly lifts the soul!

A strange day for me ahead…my final day working for a corporate after 20 years. I’ve loved every minute but now it’s time to move on. Sadness tinged with optimism…

I though today you might like to hear from D….so here is an extract of his email about life on board our red tadpole….the mighty PSP.

“So what’s all the news I haven’t written about so far….well the wildlife ha been good, lots of whales as we left the US waters and a pod with young crossing the fleet shortly after the start. Some were constantly slapping the surface with their tails, possibly those with young to warn us off. We’ve had dolphins and lots of sheerwaters on the surface but they are going now and the ocean seems empty and unrelenting again.

A distinct contrast to the flight into JFK. As we came down from the north the impact of humanity on the landscape was marked. Homes, industrial areas, railways, roads filled the land for as far as I could see and in the distance the empty ocean looked very enticing. A welcome escape from humankind. It’s funny how appealing the desire to escape has become….but only for a short time.

So we’re back to this unique life that is ocean yacht racing. A group of individuals with a common goal to pit themselves against the elements in a small space that affords no escape. We are all different yet with a common goal to beat 10 other groups who have all stepped out of their normal day to day in search of something individual and unique.

Rejoining after 5 months away makes me realise how quickly the human mind is able to put those moments of wonder, awe, enjoyment, achievement and satisfaction ahead of the struggle of living and working in demanding and challenging conditions.

Life on the lean and on the bounce is madness yet we accept it in search of something greater along with broken sleep and relentless watch changes, the physical challenge of changing sails when you’re getting soaked and trying to hold on with one hand and yet get the job done.

And I already know that when the race is over and we’re enjoying that first beer and the reunion with loved ones it will be all smiles, congratulations on crossing an ocean and tales told of memories which will be fondly recalled for years to come and with each day the physical punishment we put ourselves through will recede and become forgotten with time……..madness!!!

So we’ve caught the gulf stream and our speed has noticeably increased. Here’s hoping our strategy will speed us ahead of the rest of the fleet and as, once again we’re on our own, it’s going to be interesting to see if the route less travelled will pay off in our favour. Here’s hoping.