May 13, 2003

• Around Alone
  
  The nearest large body of water, in my case, is Lake Michigan. I’ve sailed on it only once, and it wasn’t bad as we were only about 3 miles from Chicago’s shoreline. But in the middle of the lake, I’m told winds can be strong enough to create 50 foot swells.
  
  So, I am really impressed with anyone at all who participated in the Around Alone race, where one “man” and one boat do one lap around the earth. In particular, Bermuda claimed it’s first circumnavigator in Alan Paris. He is a former hotel manager who decided to do the trip. Here is a little excerpt from the race’s website:
  
  

  The leg from Salvador would have been relatively uneventful for Alan except for a collision with a whale a few days after the start that resulted in a couple of cracked ribs when he was launched into the navigation station. “It was really difficult for me to work the boat with my ribs the way they were,” he said. “I had to be very careful to not get caught with too much sail up because I could not get it down in a hurry. There were quite a few times when I should have had the spinnaker up, but didn’t dare.” Looking back over his circumnavigation Alan talked about the high points of his journey. “When my face was 2 feet away from the water as I was clinging to the mast trying to reef the main in 50 knots of wind passing Cape Horn, and the boat got knocked down…that was the high point!” he said. “Shortly thereafter I experienced one of the most beautiful moments of the trip. Being at Cape Horn felt like I was in a place I shouldn’t be. It was frightening and stunning at the same time. If you’ve been down there you’ll know.”

  According to Yahoo Sports News:
  

  On May 11, 2003, Emma Richards became the first woman and the youngest person to complete the 29,000-mile Around Alone yacht race, when she finished fourth overall in Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.

  Yay, Emma!
  
  *** CORRECTION ***
  Kate and I were wondering was Emma really the first woman to circumnavigate the globe in a sailboat single-handedly? Well, no. She wasn’t. According to CNN, anyway. CNN says Ellen MacArthur was the first to do so, and she just did it a few years ago. ‘Wonder if there was yet another woman that CNN is not reporting.
  
  Below is an excerpt from CNN’s website about Emma Richards:
  
  

  Richards will become the second British yachtswoman to sail solo around the world, joining Ellen MacArthur, 25, who became the fastest woman to sail around the world and placed second in the Vendee Globe last year. MacArthur also became the youngest-ever finisher in the Vendee race, a non-stop race beginning and ending in France, and only the second person to sail round the world solo in less than 100 days.

  I guess it doesn’t really matter to me which one is true. It just inspires me, all the same.
  

  • 4:16 am
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