Clipper Round the World Yacht Race: The Aftermath

Crossing the Equator, with fellow 'legger' Andy Cheetham on the helm!

It has now been just over ten months since I returned from the race. Why haven't I updated my blog sooner? I'm unsure really. Maybe I needed to try and let the dust settle a little before I could really put it all into some form of context. 

As mentioned on my previous blog, I left the boat in Rio on the Friday, and was back at my desk on the Monday morning. To be ripped away from my crew and boat, and suddenly plonked back into reality quite frankly left me a bit numb! It was a numbness that l hadn't been prepared for.

I've tried to understand why I have felt this emptiness. I think when you take part in this challenge it has taken so much dedication and effort. It is your 'project', and takes up almost all of your time. As someone once said: 'you get out of it what you put in'. And for most of the crews who have taken part in any of the Clipper races over past 20 years, they have given and sacrificed almost everything to get themselves onto the start line!

Clipper very kindly prepare you for the rigours of ocean racing. for the 2011-2012 crew we had four levels of training, culminating in the race itself (whether that be 'round the world' or just a leg of the race). They have not included a level 5 in their training. Which in my mind would address the 'aftermath of the race'!

So here is my take on what 'level 5' training might look like....

Round the Island 2012 ('All the gear and 'some' idea)!!

1. GET SAILING AS SOON AS POSSIBLE: If 6 weeks / 11 months of living in a 'life capsule' hasn't totally put you off the idea of getting out on the water again, get out and do some nice day sailing. Remember to enjoy the 'apre-sail' at a club house / pub afterwards! Very civilised!
2. WORK FOR CLIPPER: They are always eager to have someone sell their product for them that has 'been there and done that'! It's a two way street! -You get to talk about your experiences all day in a way that would normally bore your friends, family and work colleagues to tears! The people you meet genuinely want to hear every detail!
3. ATTEND CLIPPER REUNIONS: Great way to catch up with all crews from training and the race itself! Also worth picking the brains of previous Clipper crews as many have great stories of success in 'surviving Clipper', so well worth buying a pint for and listening to their experiences! 
4. GET A NEW PROJECT: Book a holiday, take up a new hobby, anything that can stop you day-dreaming about getting back to the race! (unless of course you have the time/money to do so)!!
5. JOIN THE CLIPPER ALUMNI: Join the Clipper Race Yacht Club (which at date of posting I have not done)! http://www.clipperraceyc.com

Well that's it! The race is done. We all have now returned to our families and homes. Some have returned to their jobs, others are searching for a new career. I think it is safe to say that the sea has changed us all. Even the most resilient of souls could not deny the new friendships that have been forged in one of the toughest environments on the planet. We've shared some of the highest highs and the lowest lows. We've had to dig deep for ourselves and more importantly, each other. All this whilst being faced with some the most challenging (if not scariest) moments many of us have ever encountered.

31 July 2011 - Clipper fleet escorted by HMS Illustrious...and hundreds of spectator boats!

For me it has been the most amazing experience of my life (so far)! We experienced so many amazing moments during our journey. If I had to pick one, it would be being escorted along Southampton Water and out into the Solent by my Dads old commission, HMS Illustrious. 'Lusty' truly gave us a good send off that none of us will ever forget!

Joseph Conrad famously wrote "As if it were too great, too mighty for common virtues, the ocean has no compassion, no faith, no law, no memory."

Whilst the sea may have no 'memory' of our adventure, I for one will  never ever forget.