Skippers Log #3
1 year ago I was at Springfield Elementary open house as a business partner. It was there that I met a parent, per chance, who offered to help on the project. Nick & his family became a part of this quest, helping on the boat & his son doing a TV program with me. Today, my 4th day at sea, after a long night helming under spinaker, I finally had a chance to open a letter he had put on the boat as the autohelm drove on a reach. That day at Springfield, I did not wake up expecting to make another life long friend. I woke up knowing that everyday has to count, as each mile and each hour today. Nick's letter was the first of several letters from friends to come aboard. It was not just the content of the letter that makes this friendship special, but the tone. He was aboard in spirit when he wrote it, & is one of the many friends who circumnavigates with me. We must never forget the impacts we make on each others lives. This letter was a friend expressing emotion of us not being at each others beck & call, awaiting my arrival back in 9 months. I have to look at it 1 day at a time, 1 mile at a time. What this means to me is that we must never take true friendship for granted. When I look at how small my vessel is, & how many miles to go, I know that success lies in the preparation. So many people have become my family & a part of this success. It is hard to think of sailing away from them, but easier to think of sailing back to them, 26,500 left to go. Head sails set sailing at 6 knts in SSE breeze 10 kn. Cloud cover has been important. Where the clouds are breeze is. I Can tell difference in wind strength when clouds move by. 1st day I could take it a little easier. Read a little. Cut off big hunks of meat from smoked leg of pork. Lots of mold on skin, but just cut it away to the good meat.This is the life I really like, ruled by the wind & waves where time only matters when to turn on the phone in case somebody needs to call, getting weather reports & for radio schedules with other boats. Here it is about eating when hungry & necessary, sleeping when tired & boat allows. It has been such a luxury to have the CD player. What a gift from Prudential people. If the SC Ports did not come aboard with funds & facility, & Phillips with labor & support, I would not have the basis for the rest of our sponsors to join the family & I would not be enjoying this sunset tonight. If only the school children could be here to experience this first hand. Knowledge does pay off.

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