This is Me
Rich's 2023 ARC+ Risque Business Blog
Richard Hurd
Mon 27 Nov 2023 09:24
0630 GMT 27th November 23
Well I’ve just come on watch and taken over from DB. We crossed the halfway point yesterday and in 32NM (about 4 to 5 hours if the wind holds up) we will have less than 1,000NM left before we reach Grenada. I thought I’d try to put some words together for my personal blog, rather than a general blog of events and life on board RB, which gets posted to the main ARC blog site and RB’s own blog too.
It’s a full moon tonight and it is incredibly bright. Very few stars are visible, only Jupiter near the moon and Venus has just come up over the eastern skyline and these two planets are also very bright. The moonlight shimmers on the water as we quietly slip into the moon beam, as it is starting to sink towards the western horizon. RB is sailing well under her gennaker and the rest of the crew are asleep - even Nick is snoring below!
There is a magic being out here which just can’t be replicated elsewhere. The thought that land is over a thousand miles away is very humbling. Yes there are other yachts and ships around, but none are visible on either the radar or the AIS system and that is searching over a 50 mile range. So yes there is a loneliness about this, especially having one man watches for a 2 hour period. I was not keen on this type of watch system at the start, as I was unsure about how I’d cope, being a social animal. I thought it would mess with my head, but actually I’ve come to look forward to my time alone on deck. 2 hours pass quickly and while some watches are more tiring (especially the 2 to 4 AM slot), the time flies by. At the forefront however is the ultimate respect one has of the seas and oceans that accept our presence in their midst.
There is also something good in being a part of a close knit crew, watching each others backs and supporting and being supported by each other. I know many in the crew well - I’ve been sailing with DB, a very close school friend of my brother Patrick, for over 40 years (he is also responsible for my introduction to Jameson’s Irish Whisky at a very tender age); I’ve known Ed, my neighbour from Cholesbury for 18 years; and I’ve known Mark another close friend of Patrick’s for several years. Nick, the owner and skipper of RB, has been DB’s business partner for nearly 40 years too, so while I’ve only met him for the first time a year or so ago, when this voyage was being planned, I’ve heard about him over the years. Of course we all miss not having Patrick with us, as he was a key part in this whole escapade and the crew have largely been brought together by him. I’m pleased to say that he’s now in Grenada, with the WAG’s and Ed’s mum and dad, awaiting our arrival. They are perched in a villa on the southern most headland of Grenada, one we’ll have to sail around on our way to the finish line off Port Louis, St George’s.
As we sail along, of course one eye is always on the wind speed & direction, the boat speed & heading, the radar and AIS screen, the set of the sails, the creaks and groans of the yacht as she sails onward, the waves, the clouds & weather and the horizon for any lights or shapes of other vessels. But there is also time to listen to the sea and the waves that roll RB and slap against her hull as we make steady progress. Music also plays a part through my AirPods or a podcast I downloaded before the voyage. But there are times it is just nice to be left with ones thoughts.
Much of my time is spent thinking of Paula, Olli and Chloe. I know it is very tough on Paula, me being out here - we both miss each other terribly. At least on this voyage we have a great comms system using Starlink, so we are in regular WhatsApp contact and can have brief WA conversations too, so she knows I’m OK, but that doesn’t stop any anxiety she has about my safety. I am soooo lucky to be married to such a strong, supportive and unselfish woman; although she finds it hard, she copes with the stress I put on her and she also allows me to do these daft things. I can’t describe how much I miss her and love her too and she is at the forefront of my mind at most times when the boat doesn’t demand my full attention.
Knowing too that my two kids are happy and settled gives me and Paula strength too. Yes, like everyone they both have their challenges in life - careers, loves, friends, family - we’ve all been there and still are of course, but they make both of us so proud. They both have lovely partners and are warm hearted, witty, fun, great company, intelligent and hard workers - as I say, so much for Paula and me to be proud of! My words just can’t do justice to just how wonderful they both are and how much I love them.
Strangely I’ve spent quite some time thinking of my Mum and Dad and what they did in their lives and what they gave me during the years we had together. They’ve both been gone for well over 20 years and while they both died far too early, their memories remain so vivid to me. They gave me confidence and the inquisitive and passionate nature I have I think, which has probably led me to doing this Atlantic crossing again. But I also have several of my best friends who have recently lost a parent and it just brings the memories flooding back of my Mum and Dad. I hope they’re looking down on me now and are saying “we did OK in raising Christopher, Robin, Patrick and Richard” and have share that similar pride that I have and I’m sure my brothers and friends have in their kids and families.
I also spend time thinking on the varied schools, polytechnic and careers I’ve had - Fan Court, Pangbourne, the Lanch, Edbro, Merlin, Chanly. I’ve been fortunate in having some great and very close friends from all those eras, people who are very special to me and my family. It’s great hearing from and about the lives of the amazing friends and colleagues who I’ve had the fortune of working with over the years too. Perhaps we don’t see as much of each other these days; busy lives, geography all have their part in this, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling a buzz when I hear what you’ve been getting up to.
So what of the future….. who knows? With my soulmate Paula at my side, the world is our oyster. My family and Paula’s family will always root us, but opportunities will beckon - be that on land or sea. Years ahead of us to explore new and exciting places and things and to share with as many friends and family as we can. Also I want to try to limit our impact on this amazing planet we live on.
A song by the wonderful Joan Armatrading has just played on my AirPods, which sort of sums things up…. I’m Lucky!
Love and light to all and thanks for helping make my life thus far so incredible and I can’t wait for all the chapters yet to come.
Some photos of the full moon below….
