Back to the future...
Back in 2002, racing solo around the world was still an unrealized dream
for me and OceanPlanet. We had yet to even qualify for the Around Alone,
and the Vendee Globe was over two years away. The 1000 mile upwind slog
from Panama was the first truly hard test for the boat, so I was glad to
have the solid crew for the trip. That cast was Greg Nelson (2000
Singlehanded Transpac winner), George Luna (former jockey and racing
horse trainer), and longtime OP supporter Serge Martial. When the seas
smoothed out, spirits soared and we made the best of it... ;-)
After a month or so of preparation, many friends and supporters came together
to participate in the 2002 Antigua Sailing Week. Despite a lack of practice
and a harsh rating we had a good time and learned a lot:
That was all over 60,000 miles ago...it seems like a lifetime away, and perhaps
it was. OP has changed a lot since then...battered, improved, battered again
(repeat over & over) to finally come through in the end to finish the Vendee
Globe. Certainly twice around the world has changed me as well.
After the Vendee, we started a promising campaign of using the boat and our
experience to bring motivated sailors to a higher level. The storm disaster
in Key West in January of 2006 put an abrupt end to that. Although mostly
repaired, not much has happened with the boat over the last couple of years...
hard financial reality had caught up. Now thanks to help (and...er, loans)
from longtime supporters, OP is relaunched, looking good, and back in Antigua
after all those hard miles (and docks).
It's time to share the boat and the experiences of the last six years, in
the warm waters of the Caribbean. Having others appreciate the sensation of
speeding along on OP is very rewarding. I'm heading home on Sunday to Maine,
then will be back in Antigua right after Xmas to prep for the fun Around St.
Barth Race. I look forward to seeing you here!
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