Read the latest diary entry from Pip Hare as she begins her campaign to compete in this year's Mini-Transat
Thursday 20 January 2011
No sailing today.
Overnight the skies cleared, the temperature dropped and the wind started to blow down from the mountains.
A clear and crisp beautiful day unfolded with 30 knot winds from the North and the full power of the mistral arriving by lunch time; A dry and freezing mountain wind, howling down though the valleys and accelerating towards La grand motte to keep sailors in the harbour.
No great drama for me as my keel repair is not quite finished. I am suffering from the cold temperatures and my final coat of hi-build primer, to fill in the small cracks and holes and ready the bulb for antifouling, is struggling to dry in the low temperature.
The rest of the sailors also found plenty to do an enforced day off the water is never a wasted one, as most of us have a massive drive to sail ALL the time, yet boats need love and time spent repairing, preparing, optimising and just as valuable as training on the water.
I saw our team chiropractor last night and was signed off from any heavy exercise for a little while as my neck is still very sore from a bicycle accident I in the new year. I am now only allowed to run, but I cannot complain about this. My route is up a completely empty, endless sandy beach, watching either sunrise or sunset and normally sharing my space with no one.
Above are a few snapshots of the days activities – what sailors do when they cannot sail.