【2024 20IMPACT20 Diary of Resilience - Leg 2 Day 7】Tough Day

2024 Dec 7

Written by: Francesca (Leg 2)

Today was a tough one :cry: I switched to Charlie‘s team in the morning. Weather was ok , but the wind was quite strong. We were passing through Keelung city , it kept raining all day, no wonder they say Keelung is an emotional city.

Amelia said there would be around 50 knot wind guts when we going to Taipei city. Given that airplane cannot landed when there’s more than 35 knot winds ,that was seriously not joking . So we were looking forward to it but also a bit worried.

Wind became stronger at night, we were sitting on cockpit, raining and sea water kept splashing on us. The helm was super resistant due to strong winds when I was driving, I held it with all my strength, how nervous and excited it was! The rain was all over my face, our boat was very tilted and moving super fast, around 13 knot, however, there’s nothing to fear.

Situation became worse at midnight, we had to gybe due to down wind. Honestly, I was frightened of the rain, big waves, tilted deck and darkness. But wasn’t it what I longed for? So I volunteered to go to bow (front deck of the boat )with Charlie, to ease the main . I could barely walked to the bow because it was too bumpy , big waves kept splashing on us . I lay down on the deck and tried my best to untie the rope, “hold tight! ”,Amelia shouted . I used all my strength to hold the mass, thank god, I didn’t slide . The gybe was quite successful.

I went back to cockpit after it ,all wet. My body was shivering :cold_face:, but also exited. I reflected on myself that I used to be more conservative and passive, but after this, I felt like I have nothing to be afraid of, you know. And such a big storm can be overcome, what illness I can not triumph as a Chinese medicine doctor? This experience greatly enhanced my confidence in overcoming the patient’s disease!

Tough but fruitful times , it reminded me that from sailing to medical caring and to life experiencing, I should keeping this fearless spirit from Sprit . To accept all ,to experience all and overcome all.