Premier? Inn

A good nights sleep courtesy of Lennie Hendry’s favourite chain hotel, though I doubt even he could afford to stay here that often! A lesson in booking ahead…wandering in at 11pm asking for a room is tantamount to covering yourself in pet food and going for a swim in a tank full of hungry sharks.

Well at least the bed was comfy, my last good sleep for five nights, the ‘beds’on board aren’t named coffin bunks for nothing.

Exciting! Though today we have an all day off shore safety course today (classroom based, unlike the sea survival course of which I accidentally managed to do two), and then tonight we spend our first night on the Clipper 70, the actual, racing boats! Now THATS exciting!

Up until now we have been on the Clipper 68’s, the training boats. There are differences with the layouts, both on deck and down below. At least on the 70’s we won’t be sleeping with wet sails, though I’m sure it will still be damp, hopefully I can grab a bottom bunk as condensation rains onto the top ones. The galley is different too, it’s set in the middle of the boat with seating either side. Apparently the change in design came about because of so many broken ribs and injuries as on the 68’s (which are the old race boats) there’s quite a large space in the seating area. When the boat heels over in rough seas it can be likened to living in a washing machine on a fast spin. Having been face planted into the hull while tucked up in my bunk during the last training session I’ve had a taste of that (literally) and I really can’t be doing with any more broken bones, I’ve really had more than my fair share thanks to my other hobby/passion.

Oh well, I decided I wouldn’t have breakfast due to exorbitant prices, I need another coffee or two (no biscuits I see, or rather don’t see). The USB port doesn’t work either…that’s two marks deducted!