Richard Burton reflects on his experience on board JAMAICA

With the crew in Qingdao trying to catch up on some well earned rest, yet busy trying to fix all of the bits which broke, we bring you an article just submitted by Richard Burton about life on board in legs 2 & 3.

So whilst friends and family are planning your trip to support the team in Jamaica (availing of some of the great deals we highlight below) spare a thought for the experience of one crew member who is now back in blighty. And for those crew members still to join the boat, heed some excellent advice :



Just got back into the UK after finishing legs 2-3; that’s over a Month's holiday one cries after my two months at sea. I thought I would miss the boat and crew, but with my last sail being a corporate jolly it just felt great; no pressure just a nice trip out with lots of new enthusiastic crew and some old. Not much work for us to be done (well that’s how it felt). Just prep the boat for sea make 6 or 7 Journalists and guests happy, O and "just put the main sail back on and check those reefing penents they need to be good for the race. Sorry we did not have time" said Simon. Nice easy sail, put the boat to bed and I took the opportunity to just sneak off, hope I will see them all some time.

It's back at work and the brain feels over strained already, the body still feels like I've been run over by a steam roller. Have just started thinking (missing) about my mates on the boat and all those jobs I could have or should have done instead of sleeping so much or just sitting waiting for the next evolution or wave to hit.

The boat has needs:

High work rate, checking for worn ropes and as few mistakes as you can = fast boat.

Physical lost:

10Kgs in blood sweet and tears and 2ins around the waist, 20 grand, 5 pairs of glasses, 3 RH Gloves 2 LH glove, all my socks, Luggage bag in Heathrow (full of dirty washing and gifts from Fiji, Aus and New Zealand)

Physical broke:

Luggage bag, Camera, Phone, Glasses, No2 penent

Physical damaged:

Back, Left leg, Hip, groin, right foot. head and both ears

Physical gained:

a lot of very good friends and had a great time

Thing that made me scared:

Helming at night with a +30knt wind up the chuff
Changing down the Yankee when it's already to late

Thing I Loved:

Making Breakfast for any one (as long as it was porridge)
Music on the Dog watch
A good mother watch (lots of great mothers out there)
Helming with poled out head sail
Fixing stuff around the boat
Doing as many different jobs around the boat as I could
Getting off the real world just for a short while

My Top Tips:

If you are not fit for the start of the Leg you won't get fit only very tired.
Don’t over grind the main winch it will brake something.
Ocean wear sleep bag and a good pillow.
Ipod as a sleep and privacy aid.
Board shorts 2 pairs in place of underwear.
Neck rap quick dry X 2
Mid layer from Henry Lloyd best bit of kit I have ever had
Open shoes they dry on your feet

My thanks to everybody on the JAMAICA team, without you all this could have been possible.

Richard