As you depart China, expect to be treated like a superhero as the media and spectators snap away, video, cheer and applaud as you walk down to your racing yacht. The first few days when snow fell on a grey sea will be long forgotten as you work your boat to the maximum and reach the first waypoint at the southern tip of Japan. It might be a bit early to smile at the memory of the huge Pacific rollers that picked up your 70-foot yacht and allowed it to surf at 30 knots down into the trough ahead - save that for your first cold beer in Seattle, USA!
After more than a month at sea, crossing the International Date Line and with nearly 6,000 nautical miles left in your wake, you will be preparing to make one of the most momentous landfalls of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.
By then, the incredible start spectacle put on by the Chinese sailing city of Qingdao will be distant memory - but one that will live with you forever.
Knowing that you are one of the few that will ever race a yacht across the planet's greatest ocean makes the cold, wet and exhausting race completely worth while. You will have lived teamwork, not just talked about it. You will have stayed safe, raced fast and looked after yourself and your crew mates. The only thing better than living one of life's greatest challenges, is sharing it with an amazing team.