Hello to all! I imagine most of you are getting ready for Christmas or Chanukah if it has not already been celebrated. Whatever your holiday season might be I wish you a joyous one! I am now in Sydney and working to get this happy blog updated. In between boat duties it is a bit hard.
So the adventure continues as we leave Rio.
Chris, John’s wife and Emilie waving us off as we slip lines.
Okay all, I know that I am in Albany, Australia and you are waiting for more updates. However, due to our little trip to the north during Leg 3 to sneak by the high pressure system and feel good when everyone else got stuck in it, this move backfired on us and we were stuck for days, finally had to turn the motor on and I lost count but think we took 4 to 5 days of motor and sail to finally get to Albany! So only here for 2 days so far and Robert, a retired sea captain here in Albany has graciously allowed me to utilize his place to work on blog. Actually we met because he made a comment about Columbus Anan the use of sextant and compasses on the London to Rio part of my blog. If you would like some interesting history check out his comment! Continue reading
[Here’s another update while Linda is off the grid. Don’t forget to donate!— Doug]
Happy Birthday Linda!
I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the day than in the Roaring Forties, filled with 300 mile days, Dolphins, Albatrosses, and steering the 70-footer to a very impressive 20.6 knots surfing through the Southern Ocean. Way to go! I’m thinking you could do without the wet and cold, though. Continue reading
OK, we are going to make it there this time! Might get a little disjointed as I will be sharing some pictures as I go. Continue reading
We are getting closer!
The journey was much different than what I imagined. I thought that we would have decent wind and weather until we got close to the Equator and the Doldrums (area of no wind). Because of some boats getting really stuck with no wind in the Doldrums in the 13-14 race, they made a new rule this year. All boats could motor 60 hours through the Doldrums and thus save the heat issue and the no wind issue. Continue reading
To Continue some of the fun things we get to do while on board.
Navigator is a fun job unless it is blowing pretty hard, then it can be the return of the Green Monster. You get to play with all these cool radar screens, write down all the boat information each hour being sure you put correct time zone on report (UTC time from the clock showing the UK office time and official time, the correct time within the time zone from the screen, and then there is boat time if we haven’t changed our watches), longitude, latitude, speed over ground, compass over ground, distance traveled, true wind direction, true wind speed, apparent wind direction, apparent wind speed, heading, generator on/off, engine on/off, watermaker on/off, battery power, skipper asleep or awake, etc.. That should give you an idea of what we put in a tiny space. Continue reading
Okay, you all are probably sure that I am in Cape Town and you are correct. Have had some unexpected issues appear so a bit slow in getting back to blog. Yes, some were internet.
I hope to make it through most of this quickly and also provide you with many fun pictures along the way. I did do a bit of planning on this past leg so as to catch up while in Cape Town. Continue reading
Sounds like all enjoyed hearing about the kite. Just a few more photos of it and we will leave it alone.
Just a view to show you perspective of person to kite.
I told you, it is really BIG!
Leg 1 started at Southend Pier in the Thames Estuary. It is quite a historic place (I looked it up in Wikipedia) if you need some educational moments. The day was gray, misty and cold. The mooring we were supposed to hook onto when we arrived at 10pmish had not been there, so all the boats were rafted up side by side in a few rows at a dock.
Whew, thought we would never get away!
Finally met my Niece July’s friend Dana who is doing 7 of the 8 legs and is on Visit Seattle!
Dana and me
Talking with Tom (Telemed Sponsor Rep) and whipping (making doughnuts) with Ryan.
All the things that I am learning!
So the beginning of the race is a big ceremony with entertainment, teams entering a podium with their song playing. And ours is “THE Best Day of My Life” by American Authors.
So for entertainment, drummers in the spreaders!
check the masts out!
And check out our drummer!
Only disappointment was that he would not let me show him how to stand on his head and play
A bit of their performance once I get set up on YouTube!
Our team nervously waiting for our turn to go.
Mike and Chris looking like pros ready to go!
Ready and waiting!!!
On the podium after getting to tell the Audience what I did to get in shape for the race.
Never again will I tell what I am doing!! Now I have an interview with ESPN tomorrow!
Interesting watching the boats leave in the tiny space.
Good thing the little rib is there to help push the boats around! This actually looked like it might be a bow sprite (the pointy thing at the front of the boat that sticks out) kiss but luckily not.
And now an empty area until we return on July 30, 2016!
Looks a bit sad!
The parade on the Thames has begun!
Looking pretty good! Practice makes perfect!
And there are people lined up along the water’s edge watching this happy parade!
Unbelievable
Under the Tower Bridge!
A bit of Unique architecture along the way.
The Shard!
City Hall
What a Parade!
Last time through. Oh, we did journey up to London Bridge and then we turned around to head down the Thames. And London Bridge did not fall down even if the song said it did. It is still standing.
And the Tower Bridge closes and now the race is only hours away!
Spectator boats lined the shores also carrying family, friends and just people wondering what was going on! Great to be able to wave to friends that I have met along the way as they wished us safe journey!!
Passing Greenwich and getting a close fix on our navstation.
Check out bottom right hand corner for longtitude and latitude. Tells exactly where we are. all the red mess on the screen is all the boats and where they are. this is the screen we look at and figure what’s happening when we have Nav duty! Just missed the all 0s by .001!
So tomorrow we will FINALLY hear about the first leg.
At South End Pier with Sir Robin Knox wishing each boat skipper well as he sends the boats to the start line.
Journey of a Lifetime 