Dee and Sam Sailing Home with the Boys

Just four full days ashore in Boston flew by at an alarming pace and to be honest I never quite had the chance to fully catch up on my sleep or take some time out, aside from a brief shopping trip. The race certainly took more out of me than I had bargained for.

The thought of hoisting the mainsail again so soon after arriving was an exhausting one, but come Sunday morning I was excited and raring to go. Aviva and I set off again, destination UK and this time with cargo! I was going to be able to share my sailing with two of the team. Rob and Harry were sailing with me to see for themselves what really goes on and how I handle it.

The sun shone as we sailed away from the coastline and we had company with Roxy out in the North Atlantic, also heading home. Very different conditions from the cold foggy ones of the race faced us for the first few days. The seas were flat and we worked hard to keep the Aviva moving. This allowed us to set up a routine and get used to sailing with more than just me onboard. We now are heading for our self imposed Ice Gate in 15 knots of breeze that is building and will deliver us into the teeth of a large depression in just a couple of days where excess of forty knots will be the norm.

Despite the slow start it has been great to share the Aviva sailing experience with the guys. We have seen sharks, whales, dolphins that danced around the boat at night like glow in the dark torpedoes. There have also been sailfish and Portuguese man of war. The wildlife has not only been in the water though and a huge amount of sea birds keep us company. They have been really noisy at night as they chatter away to each other; unless they are under the impression we understand them!

It has been cool being able to sail in the company of Sam and her Roxy boys too, without the pressure of a race on our shoulders. I fear the fun part has passed and now we get back into the wet, wild and windy stuff once more; still at least I have had chance to sleep and now I can face what the weather brings.

Dee, Harry, Rob & Aviva