The run-up to the start-line was frantic to say the least but prior planning and preparation certainly prevents poor performance so a lot of thought, time, money and hard work into getting there. We had just 1 Atlantic crossing as a team sailing together, to get to know each other and how Outlaw handles and even then, we’d had to be careful with the rig so couldn’t push her. Then all the preparing, meetings, victualling etc etc etc, many of us were absolutely exhausted by the time we left Southampton for the start line. But then the realisation that all we had to do then was go sailing was a relief and kept our morale high. It didn’t take long to get into the watch systems and for every sail change we did, we worked out better ways and got quicker at the process.
Luxury items allowed on board were books, we took too many considering we were racing and they’re obviously heavier than kindles but they were a welcome distraction for many. And personal cassette tape players which meant you could play music in bed without distracting others off watch. The biggest luxury was our mobile phones and laptops getting locked away – weeks of no emails or social media, pure bliss, once we got used to it!
After less than a week we encountered our first storm warning from HQ and prepared down below for rough weather. We came through that unscathed and with utmost trust in Outlaw’s capabilities. Some encountered a huge area of bioluminescence during one evening which was so bright, dramatic and a memory to last. We also found a fisherman who was 100 miles off the coast of Senegal and had no fuel left to return to Dakar so we had to tow him home. This was reported to HQ as we obviously had to stop racing during this time, the MRCC were informed and we had a large container ship sent to escort us and our tracker was turned off in case it was a hostage situation. This kept us on high alert for the next day and a half but we got him home safely, returned to the same area a resumed racing, having undoubtedly saved his life. Outlaw were the only team to take a straight line down the coast of West Africa and therefore arrived into Cape Town ahead of any other teams within Adventure class and sixth line honours. It was a hard leg, much of it upwind and 7 weeks at sea was the longest for everyone on board but to arrive in such a good position made it all worthwhile.
As we arrived into Table Bay, the wind completely died on us and we had a long night trying to drift towards the finish line. We put up a 40 year old original spinnaker, practically made of gossamer and slowly made our way towards the V&A Waterfront and just as we were getting closer to the start line, the wind picked up. We knew the wind was building higher than the spinnaker could take but were too close to take it down; she literally blew up as we crossed the finish line – it made for great photos!