Race 13: Washington DC, USA to Oban, Scotland

Life on board

Welcoming the new and saying farewell to the out going crew is always bittersweet. Perhaps even more so for this race as it was the first race of the final leg of the full circumnavigation.Then there are the ongoing crew and professional crew-people I have spent the last 10+ months or more with. Blending the growing excitement of finally going home for the first time in over 15 months, this race was full of mixed emotions for me.

Lessons learnt

Spinnaker gybe. While traditionally a slower evolution than a tack due to the need to release the foreguys/preventers on the active side and centre the main before the gybe can occur, it has become a slick manoeuvre on our boat due to some efficiencies we’ve built in over time. This has included having the person who unties the foreguys then help bring the running back stay back, setting up the snatch block for the spinnaker sheet letter box drop in advance soon after removing the letterbox and just before the gybe, and a number of other useful preparation steps with the new and old sheets. This makes our gybes relatively quick.SustainabilityMaterials choice matters. Our boat has a strict victualling budget to feed the crew, yet we still manage to often purchase products in recycled or recyclable packaging where feasible. This is a nice reminder of the Blue Ocean® line from Marlow-fully recyclable as well as made from recycled rPET plastics. A great sustainable choice.

Sustainability

Materials choice matters. Our boat has a strict victualling budget to feed the crew, yet we still manage to often purchase products in recycled or recyclable packaging where feasible. This is a nice reminder of the Blue Ocean® line from Marlow which is recyclable as well as made from recycled rPET plastics. A great sustainable choice.