Linda got some prime time on Prime Time this weekend on NBC’s TODAY Show.
Best quote from the video:
TODAY: In all honesty, this is a dangerous endeavor. Were there any moments when you were scared?
Linda: My mindset when I got on was ‘If something happens to me, don’t worry. I’m doing something I’ve always wanted to do. Here I am and whatever happens is what happens.’
Check out the video and follow the fleet on the Clipper Race real-time race tracker. Continue reading
Hooray! What a great way to make your entrance to New York City.
Congrats to the ClipperTelemed+ team for winning the Panama-NYC leg (Race 11), their first overall race win in the Clipper Race and second podium of the series.
The team crossed the line this afternoon (Thur June 9) after passing Garmin in the middle of the night, extending their lead to nine miles. to the finish of the race from Panama by around nine nautical miles.
ClipperTelemed+ is due into Liberty Landing Marina, New Jersey, around 6:00pm ET tonight following the motorsail from the finish line to the marina.
For round the world crew member Linda McDavitt, a former band teacher from Texas, the lasting memories of the race were those final hours battling with Garmin.
“We were ahead and then they were ahead, we were ahead and then they were ahead and finally we were counting down five more miles, four more miles, three, two, one. So it was very exciting, the countdown was really cool.”
After two consecutive podium places since leaving Seattle in April, things have fallen into place for ClipperTelemed+ on this American Coast to Coast Leg, and Linda added: “That’s the beauty of the US. The final sail up the Hudson was also really exciting, especially to sail past the Statue of Liberty because I’ve never been that close to it.”
As the Clipper fleet nears the finish of the Panama-NYC leg, they’ve traded the 50-60 knot winds of Tropical Storm Colin (and 30.7 knot surfing!) for light, variable breezes requiring constant sail changes.
Team ClipperTelemed+ is in a tight race with the leaders. Who will make it to NYC first? ;-]
Here’s a note from Linda from last night (Wed), somewhere in the Atlantic east of Virginia:
We have been through what we think is our share of Tropical Storm Colin and all is good. We have had some gorgeous weather though it’s hot and muggy in the boat.
Beautiful skies at night, sun during the day, amazing sunrises and sunsets. Only Colin has dampened and rocked our doorstep. Shooting stars and dolphins have entertained us.
Not sure if i said this but yesterday felt like we were in a washing machine!
Sail changes have kept us busy. It seems as though we have had a marathon of kite changes — everytime I wake up there is either a wooling session in the works or I am getting to participate in one.
We have been kept quite busy this race. All in all, great fun and super crew.
Looking forward to NYC, seeing friends and getting to hear the McCallum band perform in Carnegie Hall. Go Ms. Nelson, Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Rudy and Mac band students!
I am also looking forward to catching up with ex MacArthur percussionist Kevin Brubaker on his musical journey and his new passion sailing!
524 years after Columbus, the Clipper Fleet made their way through the Windward Passage, the 50-mile wide, 5,550-foot deep gap between eastern Cuba and western Haiti that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Caribbean Sea.
High-pressure systems delivered a “breath-taking vista of horizon-to-horizon stars, with the Milky Way clearer than we’ve seen for a while, and not a squall cloud in sight” according to skipper Matt Mitchell.
It’s Day 5 of the 10-day 1,750-mile sail north from Panama to New York City and ClipperTelemed+ is in third place, just eight miles behind leader Garmin. Given the favorable weather forecast, the leaders should arrive into Liberty Landing Marina on June 9-10.
Here’s a note from Linda, from somewhere in the Caribbean:
Journey of a Lifetime 