Credit : Hamish Hooper / Camper ETNZ / VOR
I had very little sleep last night lying in my bunk being thrust around repeatedly in sync with the river of water below me sloshing back and forth the length of the boat, while having one of those, ‘What the hell am I doing here” moments.
Then began thinking about exactly where I was and what was going on around me. I quickly decided it was best not to think too much about that- rather the skill and experience of all of the crew onboard doing their best to control this boat in typically brutal Southern Ocean conditions.
When you look around and see guys with the experience of Nico, Stu, Salty, Trae, Will and Chuny who just remain unfazed calm no matter what the situation, its a comfort that’s for sure.
It is remarkably difficult to describe just what it is like onboard CAMPER in these conditions- blowing up to 43 knots, averaging 24 knots but doing over 30 knots of boat speed at times while literally skimming up, down, over & through 7 metre waves in the freezing cold.
It feels and sounds like you are on an out of control freight train, travelling through time with a conductor who gets the accelerator and brakes mixed up.
Crazy just doesn’t seem to be enough to cut describing it, insane- yes it is, but still doesn’t describe it. Maybe just the fact that the guys are sailing this amazing yacht on the very edge of the limit in one of the most hostile and isolated places on earth… and actually getting a massive thrill out of it. Nico described it as being under immense stress of how hard to push the boat compared to our competitors but maintaining the boundaries of what is safe, which is always the number one priority.
I think it was PJ Montgomery who famously described the waves down here as liquid Himalayas, well these mountains are 7 metres high at the moment and forecast to grow to up to 10 metres the closer we get to Cape Horn. I think liquid hell might be more accurate- both outside and inside the boat. I think if I were constantly bailing, the job would never end. That’s how much water is getting inside the boat through the hatch, from sodden wet weather gear and drips through winches and fittings. As for the guys on deck well they are up to their waist in it.
In the past wee while we have past Groupama to take the lead, which feels fantastic!! Finally all the hard work the guys put in have has actually added up to a tangible gain. However there is no cause for celebration, because when sailing in these conditions at these speeds any given second something can give and you have to slow the boat. Then in one sked you can lose 50 odd miles just like that… But in all honesty I think more than anything the reason we have managed to get into the lead is because of the skill and composure of all of the guys on board.
I am still uncertain whether I am enjoying it or not. I would say if we can get to Cape Horn unscathed I would look back at it as the ride of a lifetime! But right now, its both nervous and uncertain times for the media man, with untold numbers of cast thoughts to happy places
From Camper
