This week in Hull has been a very busy one as the team on Uniquely Singapore have been working around the clock to finish all of the little jobs necessary to get our boat ready to race. New running rigging has been added and three of our team have spent 2 days surrounded by spectre and fids, splicing new halyards and strops together – not without a certain amount of nervous giggling, as if their splices were to fail during the race we could potentially loose a sail over the side! For crew who have never sailed before this week has been a period of intense learning, being taught new skills which must then immediately be put into practise. Particularly with something as daunting as splicing this was no mean feat to get all of the running rigging ready in such a short space of time.
For myself I have been helping out in the temporary ’sail-loft’ set up by Hyde Sails in a nearby office block. Together with my fellow team members, Shaun and Nicole, we have repaired and strengthened the main sail after the battering it took during the delivery to Hull, as well as marking up our new spinnakers.
The whole of Hull marina has been turned into a ‘fleet village’ for the week with banners, music and crowds of spectators helping to fan the excited atmosphere. With each boat flying their team colours and each crew proudly decked out in their team kit, the Clipper fleet is looking exceptionally good and are now straining at the bite to start.
We will leave the dock tomorrow lunch time and sail out in to the Humber River in formation before starting the race at midday. My next email update will therefore be coming to you from somewhere in the English Channel – I am hugely excited that this adventure which I have been working towards for 6 months is now, finally, about to start!
Thank you for all of your support and I look forward to emailing you from the boat 
Lauren x
