Nearly off

It is 6.15am local time and I am awake bright and breezy. Like , I'm sure, all the leggers before me I am missing my family and struggling to deal with what will be the longest separation I have ever had from them. They are always in my mind just behind the next job that needs to be done. Coupled with this is a rag bag of emotion. Excitement at the prospect of crossing an ocean in what should be fairly calm weather but could be anything especially as there are cyclones off North Australia at the moment; fear, exacerbated by the Man Over Board on the last leg which brings home constantly the reality of the actual risk rather it being a jolly fine, fictional Boys Own adventure. The concept of endurance is one that I haven't fully deealt with in the past. There has always been the option of getting off, getting out or switching off. Once we go tomorrow it's "there till the end". As a shrink there is then the fascination with people dynamics, but of which I am now a part, not the doctor. The team is a mix of races, ages, sexes and ability as well of personality type and overall everyone who has already sailed seems to have found a way to adapt to those initial frictions.
We have not yet been allocated to our watches but it will amount to 6 sailing and one mother watch from each watch which should be perfect. The training day had 14 people all clamouring for a job and those with the most powerful elbows got the first look in so it will be glorious to have the tranquility of space.
Our Lady Qing is looking immaculate after her clean yesterday and all obvious repairs made. There will certainly be things which will arise on the trip and need to be tackled but for now, all is good.
I'm so looking forward now to letting that last line slip and be off. There will thousands of people waving from the harbour wall, and loads have been to look around, but behind the smiles and waves will be that immense sense of awe and longing. A wish to touch base with home again but to make the most of enjoying the sea, its colours and creatures, the stars in all their light pollution free glory and dried milk in my coffee!
Kay