American circumnavigation accomplished
Mai 14, 2009
(by Boris) We just broke through the 500 miles barrier this morning. It feels like being almost there, two days to Charleston the final stop-over of our round the world race. We are so used to spend weeks out here on our Class40. For me it’s more than a year and 36.000 Miles that I lived and worked on this boat now. May 28th last year I arrived in Marblehead near Boston with a podium finish in the singlehanded Artemis Transat. May 28th this year we will celebrate the leg4 price giving in Charleston. A circle then closes: Beluga Racer has raced around the world from the US to the US.
Things ashore could not have changed more dramatically while we were accomplishing this circle. A new political era, a new president, a crisis and rough southern ocean like storms blowing millions out their homes and jobs.
Especially on this background I have to realize what a privilege this endeavor means, taking on to discover the southern ocean, cape horn, a race around the world on this incredible boat, backed and sponsored by an innovative and successful shipping company, that beside core business explores the north-eastern passage, develops kite-sails for cargo ships, creates education programs in Thailand, backs the Bremen soccer team and us. The best thing is that they keep us in business and prolonged the sponsorship regardless the economic downturn, allowing us to fully concentrate on getting better and hopefully winning more races in the future. Winning… did we win this one? I keep my mouth shot.
Yes, we definitely won!! We realized the big dream of racing around the world short-handed. We sailed pass cape horn in dusty morning light. We feel now confident at sea on a class40. Passion to steer her downwind, to glide down waves and carefully search for the past through the next couple of waves… this passion is more alive.
Most important - in our Chilenean competitors we won friends for a lifetime. The central lesson I learned during this race I learned from them: Passing the Falklands we quickly gained 150 Miles advantage on them. They ran out of fuel which meant no weather data, no autopilot, no routing no water. Realistically a hopeless position. But two weeks later and 50 minutes before the 3rd leg finish in Ilhabela they took the lead despite these disadvantages - giving true sense to their saying: “never surrender!” This incredible achievement could serve as a source for good spirits to everyone who is in a difficult situation in life.
For us it was a lesson. And that`s why I don’t try to guess the result of this leg. Did you see their speed on the race tracker? They are sometimes faster than us although their boat is only left with the windward rudder after they broke the leeward rudder three days ago. Guess what they write? Hopeless situation? Surrender? Not possible to win? No way!! They speculate about us being stuck in the light air high pressure ridge lying ahead, wind turning SW so they can attack on the other gybe. I keep my mouth shot. We will have won this race, when we will have finished first in Charleston, but we have another 500 miles to go, to look back with huge respect for these two young guys.
You may guess it was a relief for us to see them breaking their rudder? I assure you we would rather become second in Charleston than losing our match partner.
Charleston used to be a stop-over in the Around Alone race. I am very sure that our race and this class will remain in the landscape and become an unseen platform for aspiring amateurs and Figaro like sharp professionals, willing to race around on evenly matched machines. Keep this in mind when you come down to the docks and see our small fleet. It’s just the first seed.
Dear Boris and Felix,
congratulation for such a matured and engaged view and comments of the actual situation. You also kept rightly in mind that this rudder desaster can happen to any sailing yacht any time in these big oceans. Therefore we further cross our fingers for a safe happy landing in Charleston at first position. Warm regards Dieter Ahrendt
Dear Boris and Felix,
On behalf of the Chileans fan, I really thank you for those nice and beautiful words for the Chilean team. This words can only confirm us the tremendous sailors you are but most of all your values and chivalry. Your words can only confirm me that the sport I love have its values intact, and that is something I must thank you for.
Having the Chilean team always pushing to their limits is only because they have great competitors that force them that way. Unfortunately accidents like the rudder happen but from what I’ve read from Felipe’s blog their spirit is intact and so it is their fan’s.
I wish you have a safe arrival to Charleston and a safe return to Portimao in the completion of this great race. Hopefully on the rest of this leg and in the next ones we will keep on seeing this marvelous battles between the Beluga and Desafio.
Kind Regards,
Pablo Pizarro V.
Dear Boris and Felix,
I am a chilean, supporter of Desafio Cabo de Hornos, and very impressed with the sportmanship demonstrated in your comunications thru several events in the race. I do not understand German, so I appreciate very much any frequent comments in english in your blog.If this comments relate to the tactics of Chileans and your reaction to those efforts much better for us.
I know the Chileans have presented a very competitve race against you. Felipe has always been very optimistic in his way of comunicating the progress of Desafio Cabo de Hornos in the race. The final minutes at the arrival in Inabela was HISTORY. Also his description of the restart in Inabela were very good.
We follow all their efforts to shorten the distance against your boat. I have to “take my hat off” when I see every morning your performance. In some days the chileans can, during three hours, shorten the difference between boats, but you both react to their efforts and again keep the same speed/distance that will end in your winning the race.
You both have offer us a wounderfull class of how to compet and win.
Congratulations for you both. Arturo
Dear Boris,
We enjoyed meeting you at the docks in Wellington
and look forward to seeing you again in Charleston.
As we live within a hours drive of Charleston, please let
us know if we can assist you with anything while in Charleston.
Safe sailing,
Doug & Jean Brown
Beaufort, SC 29906
843/846-4130
BORIS and FELIX
Congratulation from CHILE
Moin,
ist ja schon beeindruckend, wie die Roten mit defektem Leeruder und 9,1kn Durchschnitt hinter Euch herhecheln. Von “humpeln” kann man da nicht mehr sprechen. Klar habt Ihr zurück geschaltet und fahrt deutlich langsamer als möglich und der fast achterliche Wind hilft ihnen mit wenig Krängung. Gleichwohl: Hut ab, die Jungs haben Biss und geben nicht so einfach auf. Das ist aller Ehren wert! Hoffe nur, sie bekommen das Ersatzruder und -Lager rechtzeitig nach Charleston geliefert. Wäre doch zu schade, wenn Ihr ohne einen ordentlichen und ernst zu nehmenden Gegner das Rennen beenden müßtet.
Goode Wind
CR
Congratulations Boris and Felix for your gentlemen behaviour. You look smart guys, good fellows, nice christmas tree.
You are intuitive and smart Boris, I think you are a part of the boat, you are one with it. Good luck, but I am a fan from chilean team and I am blowing for them ! Estela from Chile.