This part will mainly be photos to add to your knowledge of the race.
Radar providing us information at beginning of our match race with LMax
We get this information as to where our competitors are every 6 hours and we plot them on radar. You however get the hourly update that we wish we also had access to.
Orca watch Working hard to keep ahead of LMax through squalls, wind, no wind, rain and anything else that Mother Nature threw at them.
Awesome work by team mates!
Going for the finish line!
This is where LMax popped the kite up and moved forward on us, then tacked to port and crossed us to finish ahead by 500 meters.
LMax kite goes up.
The best though was the great sportsmanship by our crew and LMax. We applauded them for their finish and they applauded us. Love it and proud to be a part of our team!
Race now over we are in the fix things on the boat mode as we continue towards Panama.
Neil fixing winch handle holders.
Sean not sure what to fix.
Guess what is coming! A squall
Things are getting exciting now. Rain!
Skipper Matt taking the opportunity to take a fresh water shower!
Actually only opportunity that we have on the boat. Other choice is use a bucket of seawater that also has diesel and no telling what else in it.
And then there was……
Amazing sheet lightening many of the evenings as we journeyed on.
Lots of birds doing a bit of flying in formation and pretending they are band formations!
Great time at night with moon out now.
Yet another pretty moment!
Flaking the main so that the awning could go up and cool shade delivered.
Our shade cover has now been put up and we can get cooled down as we work.
John helping work my doughnut by milking it til there is no excess.
Craig (Mr. Montana) doing his magic on putting his doughnut on the spinnaker block to be repaired.
He did one and I did another one a bit smaller and then later I went up the mast, tried cow hitching each on to D ring to see which fit the Primary line the best (port halyard block). Mine won this one but when we reached New York, his went on the starboard spin halyard block. Love having great help!
Mike and Adrian supervising while Neil works.
Time out for food!
As soon as they pass out the utensils I start thinking I am one of the orphans in either Annie or Oliver waiting for the food!
Marker for a fishing net out in the middle of the ocean
We took time to check and make sure that we had not cut the net or damaged it when we went by as no one had seen the marker until too late. Note the calm “no wind” sea state. At this point we were glad that they used the 3rd possible finish line as the finish for the race. It would not have been much fun in this wind?
Yes I love sunsets and want to share the beauty I have seen.
Jill doing some whipping on the spinnaker halyard to help me with my jobs list! Love those helpers!!
Fearless helmswoman Jen
You may think she is just having fun, but no! Someone has to drive the boat!!
Craig repairing much needed line holders.
This man is a master of all kinds of repairs.
Adrian and Han worked to fix zipper on sail bag. Again a much needed repair.
And then there is Sean, master cook and doing an awesome job once again providing good nourishment.
Han directing putting Yankee sail into sail locker.
Kat and I scrubbing the floorboards from below
We sometimes have to take a break now that the racing is over. Right Alex and Lynn?
I must have had Mother Duty this day as I photoed the bread recipe. Yes, as a master bread maker that now knows to be sure they add yeast and not additional flour instead of yeast, I want to share our recipe! (Actually Sean’s recipe)
Sean’s recipe to make bread!
Another shot of bringing the main down at sunset one evening.
Note that we have one guy standing up there pulling it down while the rest of the crew gets ready to flake it.
Everyone now in the act! Except me as I was up the mast earlier to repair and replace the spinnaker block.
Yes we work until dark and long afterwards if needed.
Don’t you love moonbeams with a shot of our knot meter and speed on the left hand side?
Costa Rico and refueling stop on our way to Panama.
Boat loaded up and getting ready to sail to the Philippines.
House in the trees along the shore on the way into fueling stop.
While stopped, Kat was sewing on some mast sliders and my foot was helping hold sail out of the way!
Though we had had breakfast, several put in more orders while we waited on boat refueling to be done and customs check in to finish.
Hungry group
Several of us also took the opportunity to wash our hair with fresh water!!
All of us joined Alex and Kat in communicating with the outside world as there was both phone service and internet available.
Colorful country as seen in their boats
LMax waving as they come into refuel stop as we were departing.
Finally I find a flying squid on deck.
Mike wants to eat it…YUK!
Han even brings a couple found in the sails for me to see . What a friend!
Thought you might enjoy seeing a lunch special.
Lunch setup on deck
Are you all ready to come to one of our picnics?
Light air day and why do we have to wear these life-jackets???
Coming into Panama City
Trying to figure how the white gets on this rock formation
Lots of big ships waiting to go through the canal.
Jen, Jill and Lynn dressed for our arrival and glad to get there.
Panama City skyline
We did it! 2nd for race Seattle to Panama
If you look carefully you can see that Matt does not have lots of experience spraying crew with Champagne! I will say that his method has improved greatly!
So much for now as I need to get bunk settled for leave tomorrow and then off to hear Austin’s McCallum HS band and band director friends, Carol Nelson, Matt Ehlers and Jeff Rudy perform at Carnegie Hall.
Have a great day and enjoy each moment! What am I thinking now?
A pensive moment and one that all the round the worlders are currently having. What is next?
Journey of a Lifetime 
Looks like you are in the home stretch! Sorry that you will miss Mac Band Reunion( San Antonio). John Pearson will conduct us again. Say hi and good luck to Carol Nelson! Seems like McCallum’s program is a lot like Mac Arthur’s.
Bill Records
LikeLike
Your team is lucky to have you onboard, Linda! You have done so well and learned so much…the boat captains will be hunting you down and trying to persuade you to sign on for another year…
Sharon and John
LikeLike