We are 200 miles off the coast of Australia, 14 miles ahead of our
nearest rival and we have been increasing our lead steadily over the
last 12 hours. The temperature of the seawater is pleasant now but
the weather is not too good. Low hanging clouds and the occasional
spatter of rain. The wind is picking up as we are getting closer to
shore and the waves are growing on us. All in all the perfect and
typical conditions of this trip from Capetown. The humidity inside
the accomodation has been the worst so far. The effects of hardly any
dry air and ventilation the cooking smeklls and the fact that 19 people
breathe in the same space are clearly noticable.
After 24 days at sea the smells inside are various and far from
pleasant. We have smelly leather boots smell, smelly rubber boots smell,
the smell of wet lifejackets, unwashed hair mixed with the smell of
sweat and mold. Then there is the undescribeble and definitely
nauseating smell that some people on this boat create when their sweat
reacts with some plastic fibres: the henri lloyd deck shoes are the
worst followed by some sleeping bag liners and thermal underwear.
When it gets wet outside and the forehatch has to remain closed this
cocktail of fragrances gathers momentum as it is carried on thick moist
air. Understandably I am glad to be either asleep or on deck.
As a gift to my nose I regularly open my bag with clean clothes (though
there are fewer and fewer of them left) in order to smell some
arftificial flowers: a very welcome change.
One more day to go if the wind does as it predicted and we will arrive
in the great town of Geraldton with lots of dry warm air. Let's hope
they have showers...
