an ocean racing chronicle · Clipper Round the World

Chapter Two

The training levels

Four levels, cold marinas and heavy weather — the leg was earned long before the start line.

Hero photo for training

Sunset from the helm — the reward at the end of a training day.

One evocative line to open the day.

Setting out

Where this part began

Opening paragraph, written once the day's story lands. The scene on shore — written once Don's photographs and voice notes land.

The Level One crew board
Level One — names on the crew board.
The story

What happened

The main movement of the day: the moments that made this part of the journey what it was.

Hands marked by rope work
What the ropes leave behind.
Clipped on at the rail during training
Clipped on and learning.
Sea survival training in the pool
Sea survival — pool day, life raft up.
The Level Two crew board
Level Two — back for more.
Galley duty below decks
Galley duty — racing runs on it.
Between times — interlude

A lighter human aside from the day. The small human moment that stuck — written from Don's notes.

In their words

What they said

The best of the crew's messages and Don's notes, tidied only enough to read.

“A line from the crew goes here.”
Guest name
Looking back

What it left behind

Closing prose. What this stage meant, seen from the far side of the finish line.

Three crew on deck at dawn
Dawn watch, three up.

A short italic envoi, the feeling to leave on.