Sailing: A bit of tlc and a pack of waffles prepare me for icebergs
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Your support makes all the difference.Sunday 1 December
Rented apartment, Cape Town, 22.46
Away from the water, I climbed Table Mountain again today, with my Dad, and had a barbecue with some friends. On the water, I went out to greet Tim Kent, who was just arriving in second place in the Class II fleet. I went out with four of the other skippers. I know how good it felt to have Thierry Dubois and Bernard Stamm, the racers ahead of me, to see me in, so I've tried to make it to all the subsequent arrivals.
Tuesday 3 December
Apartment, CT, 23.12
Took Pindar out for a blast. She looks brand new again thanks to the shore team. She also has a new feature, a small freezer. It was a gift to keep my drinks cool – ironic given that I'm heading for the icebergs of the Southern Ocean next. But I'm most excited about its potential as a luxury food store (or to be precise, as a home for six packets of potato waffles). The next leg stretches across Christmas and New Year and the waffles – one of my favourite comfort foods on land – are my big festive treat. My mum always made a mean breakfast when I was young, so I hope a little taste of home will keep my spirits up.
Friday 6 December
On board Pindar, CT, 11.45
I've just had two days away on safari with my parents. Beautiful animals, a good rest and decent bit of tlc. Returned to find confirmation that I'll be appearing next Wednesday on Channel 4's Faking It, in an episode that was filmed over the summer. I was one of three "mentors" to the hopeful faker, a girl called Lucy. Her day job was working in catering on cross-Channel ferries and the producers wanted to turn her into an ocean racer. I knew that it was going to be tough. Sailing is not something that is easy to blag, you actually have to be proficient as well. Lucy, the subject of the show, only had 30 days. She lived with me in Hamble in Hampshire and I had to teach her not only how to sail, but how to think like a sailor. At the end she was put in front of a set of judges – in charge of a crew – and had to try to convince them that she wasn't the faker. I'm not allowed to tell you the outcome but it's on Channel 4 next Wednesday, 11 December. Getting involved with Faking It made me realise the importance of experience. I started sailing more than 20 years ago. My whole family sailed so I tried it from a young age. From nine, I was sailing in competitions in and around Scotland, and at 10 I was going all over Britain. Every weekend I was sailing, every Wednesday night was dinghies. Then I had a year off when I was 16-17. I went to the States for a year and didn't sail at all. By the end of that year, I was desperate to get back on the water and went straight into a full summer of sailing. The university sailing team followed, in Larks and Laser IIs. Then I was the youngest crew member of Tracy Edwards' RSA campaign and it was shortly after that I met Andrew Pindar, who offered to sink some of his money (though not literally, I hope) into sponsoring me. This is now the fourth year of a partnership that has led to the current wonderful opportunity. I just hope I can do everyone proud when the third leg starts next Saturday.
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