Sailing Logic Blog
Monday, 1 September 2008
RORC Madeira-Cowes Race: BLOG FROM SKIPPER PHILIPPE
Our extraordinary adventure is now drawing to a close. We have just a few hundred miles to the finish line in the Solent and are battling it out every inch of the way against Pen Azen. We are currently 22 miles behind them which, once the handicap correction is applied, puts us pretty much level. It is gripping stuff and the team aboard Puma are completely psyched up to fight till the finish.
Three weeks ago we left the English Channel in a full gale, so it only seems fitting that we should re enter the Channel in another force 8 gale. Yes, that is what is forecasted for us as we round Ushant for the final time! It hardly seems possible that it is less than three weeks ago that I wrote ‘I would never choose to sail around Ushant in 40 knots of wind again!’
Well here I am eating those famous last words! There are however two fundamental differences this time. Firstly we will have the wind from behind us making for an extremely fast and more tolerable ride. Secondly, we are returning with a team of experienced ocean sailors who have developed in confidence, stature and ability over the last 3,000 miles of tough racing.
It always strikes me that much of what people back at home read about adventures at sea is based on the discomfort, hardships and physical toughness of offshore sailing! You may wonder therefore why we do it! Based on what you read I guess you may be forgiven if you think that we are bordering on insanity. Believe me though, that is not the case (well for the majority of us anyway)!
I often think that you may not get a completely balanced narrative of what life at sea is all about. If it was always as tough and miserable as we often like to make it out to be then I think I would be the first to agree that maybe the men in the white coats should be waiting for us in Shamrock Quay on Wednesday morning! As much as I would like to fuel our egos depicting heroism I feel compelled to divulge the truth of our journey!
Over the past few months I have had the great honour of sailing with eleven of the most considerate and team spirited individuals I have ever met. Richard has previously written about our ‘Team Values.’ I think you will all agree that a set of words is meaningless unless everyone believes in them and fully embraces them. Over the past few weeks it has struck me that our team not only believes in those seven key words but they have become the epitome of us. They could now be seven random words that anyone who looks at our team from the outside would select to describe us.
The truth is that we set off on an adventure together as twelve strangers and have shared a unique and wonderful experience together. Do not get me wrong, every single person on board deserves every bit of admiration and praise they get. The achievement is immeasurable and without a doubt we have been through some extremely tough conditions. However, for every hour of hardship there have been several hours of immense pleasure, fun and euphoria.
What is so amazing out here is the appreciation of the power of nature. There are no words or prose that can completely depict the emotions, or pictures that can document the magnificence of the ocean. To fully understand the true enchantment of the sea you have to experience this sort of sailing first hand. We can try our hardest to explain it to you but I feel it to be an impossible task. This is why I do it and why I love the ocean with so much passion. There are twelve privileged people on our campaign who will share the memories and emotions of Mother Nature at her best for the rest of their lives. Our lives will be so much richer for this experience and it is something that no amount of money will ever be able buy.
For me this race has provided me with the best month of my life. It has been a once in a life time experience that perhaps will be impossible to replicate. Everything has worked out so well and the enthusiasm, humour and commitment of every member of the team have been outstanding. Team Puma is a ‘TEAM’ in every sense of the word and I now look forward to the Fastnet campaign next year with the same team.
I hope you have all enjoyed sharing our experience through the wonderful blogs that everyone has been writing. They only give a taster of what life onboard Puma is really like. This team has been unique and with a very special bond. Without being here it is difficult to fully understand. Sadly for us the adventure of a lifetime is nearly over and we must all start thinking about how we are going to cope with returning to normality next week and saying goodbye.
Anyway, enough of that sentimental rubbish, it is back to business. We have a yacht race to win and please be rest assured that we are giving it our all. We are experiencing light winds at the moment which is a welcomed break after two days of tough upwind sailing. Both Puma and Pen Azen have negotiated the light winds very well and as the tactical options are drying up with every mile we will be relying on superior teamwork to out sail them.
Morale is extremely high both on deck and down below which is a huge advantage in the closing stages of the race. We have the prospect of some exciting downwind sailing over the next few days which is something we very much look forward to. All we need to do is keep Pen Azen in the same relative position and we can have them. Keep thinking positive thoughts for us. There is one thing you can be certain of; we will arrive in Cowes (hopefully on Wednesday morning) having put in 100% right up till the end. Come first or second I wholeheartedly believe we are all winners on Team Puma. Beating Pen Azen will just be the icing on the cake though!
PS Congratulations to Bol on making it through the North West Passage, the first boat through unassisted in a season! Well done you. Awesome achievement. Safe passage home.
PPS Thanks Ben for your legendary messages. It really has been like Nania Land out here much of the time. Cannot wait for you to join the Fastnet team, I have a feeling you will fit in just fine!
PPPS Top advice Finbar, but a tad late!
PPPPS Thanks to our harem of loyal supporters. It was fantastic sharing our experience and making you all a big part of it in Madeira. (Mum, Allie, Maire, Anna, Siobhan, Debs and Steff).
PPPPPS Huge thanks to Allie for your continued support. You have been truly amazing and we all love you.
1 Comments:
Richard Donkin saidhttp://www.sailinglogic.co.uk.Philippe your writing is getting as good as your helming. I've really enjoyed all the blogs and reports. It sounds like Puma has a fantastic team. Just as well you didn't have old misery along. Look after old Shumi and give him my best. I would have been there for your finish but I have to be in Sardinia this week (tough I know). How about a beer next week? Maybe we could go along to the Southampton boat show.I have an idea.
all the best,
Richard- 1:14 PM