It is another 71 days until the first race will start from Portsmouth in southern England. On one hand it is more than two months which appears ample of time, on the other hand preparations are in full swing. In this post I want to give a short overview of what is part of the preparation. In the coming weeks there will most likely be more updates on this topic.

Preparing the Preparation

The first race will start on 31^st August. To prepare the boat (and crew) the weeks 33 and 34 are designated “prep-weeks” for all teams. During this time we will perform all kinds of checks on our boat. We will get our sails, replace all lines on the boat and will get to know our home for the next few weeks or months inside out. In the end we will most likely face breakages during the race so we have to know how these can be repaired.

Another important part will be provisioning. However, this is a pretty big topic in itself and I might go into more detail in another post at a later stage.

To complete the various tasks in those two weeks, we need a plan. In a first step we thus need to prioritise the different jobs to ensure that the most important ones get done first. And of course we need to take into account who is available and when. Since the race has not yet started officially, some might still be working or having other obligations which prevent them from taking part in the prep-weeks.

Our skipper Lou has asked me to draft a first version of the plan. I received the list of tasks and have to see how they can be scheduled most effectively. To coordinate, I am working closely with our bosuns, since most tasks are about sails, winches or other equipment on deck. My focus will be on the technical installations, which will be my area of expertise as designated engineer for our boat. Like this, everyone will get their role to take some of the burden from our skipper and support the team.

Sailing Preparation

In parallel the sailing preparation is taking place. Each crew member has to complete four levels of training before they start the race. Currently, most boats and skippers are busy running L3 and L4 courses. My last week of training will commence next week Wednesday and I am filled with anticipation.

The goal for the L4 training is to run through some of the emergency drills to ensure smooth execution should we encounter such a situation. One part will be the transfer of spare parts from one boat to another. But we will also look at how to tow a boat and much more. In addition, we will surely run another MOB (man over board) drill.

To conclude the training, we will conduct a mock race against the other teams. Most likely this will take us once across the English Channel and back. However, this will depend on wind and weather, with the forecast looking pretty good. To offer a training spot to all crew members, Lou and Brian (our skipper and first mate) are currently running one course after another. Thus they are happy if we can support them with the preparations.

Personal Preparation

In addition to the boat and team preparation mentioned before, there remains the personal preparation. I would differentiate the following four categories: physical preparation, mental preparation, organisational preparation and travel preparation.

Physical Preparation

To be well prepared for my adventure, I try to visit the gym regularly two to three times a week. Paying a visit is unfortunately not quite enough, but once I am there the rest follows easily.

In general my program focusses on stability to a large extend. This will be very helpful when for weeks everything around me will be moving non-stop. Thus I try to include exercises both in standing and plank positions. To not get too static or bored, I am using balancing boards (e.g. Sypoba), soft mats or suspended loops quite extensively. This leads to some change by itself and keeps me motivated in the long term.

Next up are exercises for the big muscle groups: chest, back and legs. Here I try to find exercises which are similar to the movements that might occur on the boat. One example might be pulling the sails on deck, which is similar to deadlift. For all those exercises I am not using any gripping supports to also train grip strength. On the boat we will have to move everything by our own force in the end.

Lastly, I have special exercises for my shoulder. After having had multiple issues with my shoulder, it is necessary to include these. Here again I am changing between exercises for stabilising the joint and those focused to build general strength. With all that I feel well prepared and am positive to finish the race without any bigger injuries.

Organisational Preparation

The name of this category might a ppear a bit cryptic at first. For me this encompasses all the preparations which are necessary to go abroad for a longer time: Insurance, power of attorney, leave from work, reachability etc.

I am not going to give a lot of details, but I guess I am in pretty good shape. I am very thankful to my employer, who granted me a year of unpaid leave. This allows me to take part in the race without too much uncertainty when coming back. And I can count on my family and friends who have always been very supportive of me.

Insurance is another difficult topic. There is for example the health- and accident insurance. In Switzerland everyone is required by law to take out insurance covering both risks. According to the law it is however not allowed for the health insurance to offer cover for activities classified as elevated risk. And as you might have guessed, sailing across an ocean is such an elevated risk. I am by no means an expert on this topic but this appears to me a bit comical. Luckily enough the organiser of the race offers an insurance package which is specifically tailored for taking part in the race. Thus, I don’t have to worry about this either.

Travel Preparation

This category is probably more meaningful again. To me this includes all points which are directly connected to travelling to foreign countries. Starting with the passport, all the required visa and finishing with mandatory and recommended vaccinations.

Maybe this is the category I like the most. At least it feels like I ticked off most of the points from my list. I anyhow had a passport and most of the visas I need have been applied for and are already granted. Only the visa for China is still open. As this is only valid for 90 days from when it is granted, we will have to apply for it during one of the stopovers. This is a bit worrying for me, but I won’t be the only one having to do this. So everything should be fine in the end.

After a consultation with the institute for travel medicine it was clear, which vaccinations were mandatory, which one are recommended and also which other points should be observed during the journey. One point is for example the Malaria prophylaxis or to refrain from consuming uncooked vegetables in some regions. Even though I don’t like the thought of a syringe, I have bitten the bullet and completed all the vaccinations.

Mental Preparation

Some might ask why I moved this section to the very end of this post. This kind of shows how I approached this point. On one hand I am clear that this point is important and will be crucial for enjoying the experience. On the other hand, I procrastinated getting started until a few weeks ago. I mean I am mentally well balanced and resilient – or so I thought.

But I am also aware that this journey will take me to my limits repeatably. This is part of the reason why I want to do it. But how will I manage to stay sociable, when things get tough? I have spent quite a few thoughts on this in the past couple of weeks. These kind of situations are new to me. Normally, I am calm and can keep my temper. But this makes it even harder for me to judge how I will do, when I can’t keep my cool.

A few weeks ago I reached out to a friend of mine, who has some experience in this area. He knows some people who have spent weeks at sea. He talked to them and discussed, how they can master these challenges. It was a strange feeling. He knows me – pretty well to be honest. And he was right with what he told me. Even though not everything was pleasant. But I have to face it and work the problem.

I cannot say whether I will be able to live to his recommendations at all times. It appears hard. But I am determined to try and give it my best. And I might share some of my experiences hier after having tried the suggestions and gotten comfortable.

I hope this gives you an idea of my preparation. I will try and share another update in the next weeks to come. If there is something I have forgotten, please let me know.