It is an exciting day! Congratulations to Neal and thank you to all who have supported him! A special Thank You to the South Carolina State Ports Authority for sponsoring a conference call linking our No Barriers students to Neal in South Africa, to be held tomorrow morning!
Skippers log #52
Along Cape Town's Victoria And Alfred Basin
At about 15:30 local time today, I crossed the finish line in Cape Town. I have taken 16 days off my old time to finish in 51 days and some hours. I feel pleased to have crossed the finish line. There was a lot of press on the water to welcome me in, plus my family. I had a snag early hours this morning. A halyard got fowled in the spreaders and I had to go aloft to the first spreader. I could not do it at sea with the swell, so I sailed into the lee of Hout Bay, 11 miles from the finish line, and freed it. Just then as I came down, I drifted into floating kelp and wrapped it around my keel, along with a huge trapaulin. I was able to get most of the kelp free, but could not get the trapauling off till we got to port. The NSRI was there to meet me, carry the press and family. Only my brother in law, Mark Schrader and a two other people managed to transfer aboard before the weather kicked up. The Cape Doctor, the South East wind that Cape Town is natorious for, whipped the bay into a wild frenzy. What a welcome from the wind that taught me to sail. Coming ashore was a big welcoming committee. Many television camaras and press. I presented Livingstone High School with the Sweet Grass basket from Cainhoy, and I asked that the school place an acorn in it as a symbol of hope which grows into the mighty oak. After the press conference, we squared the boat away and now I am going home to my family and to call Gwen. Leg one is over. I will up-date you with activities ashore as exciting things happen.
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Skipper's Log #52
At home, Cape Town.
The last 48 hours has been hectic. I spent my first evening with my family at my sister's home, finally getting to sleep in a warm dry bed at 2 am after sitting up with my sister and her husband, talking and catching up on the last few years. In the morning, at 7 am the phone began to ring with live radio interviews and more press. By 9 am I was at Livingstone High School, my old school, with my mother and a Television crew, meeting old teachers and the new crop of students. Carte Blanche, a huge magazine televion program is doing an exclusive coverage broadcast with me which will air on Sunday night across Africa. I spoke with about 40 students, while the crew filmed away. Then we went to my home, my fist time back, and the camara's caught those first steps. We spent several hours interviewing my parents, and I, in front of my dream tree where it all began 23 years ago. There after we headed to my boat,where we filmed for hours inside the boat,and on deck. The Southeaster is still blowing, prohibiting us from going sailing. At 3 pm I received a conference call initiated by Diane Woodruff from our No Barriers Education Foundation, along with Byron Miller with the South Carolina Ports,our seven No Barriers Schools,and the Post and Courier. Each school had a representitive and asked me one question each. After the call we completed filming and the crew left with hours of raw footage to edit into the 10 minute special which airs between 7-8 pm this Sunday on MNET. Finally, at 7 pm, I was able to have dinner at my parents and go home to continue work at Jan's. Graham Bougardt, my brother in law has taken over the public relations for Cape Town. Daily we have articles in the media, and have had some coverage on TV, plus all the radio stuff. He has bee dynamic. He is securing a deal with a broadcast sponsor for radio in South Africa, and today, while a friend and I were working on the boat, he began negotiating for a sponosorship of next weeks educational tour. We have many requests, more than I can fullfill. We started sorting out gear, removing sails and sending off to be checked at the North Loft, went over to Manax and Power Marine, long time supporters of my endeavors to get materials. Pat Frazer has always been tremendous in his support, picking up the phone and calling friends in the industry. Eric Stevens at Folks gave some materials to move along, and Pierre Kay at Elevation Steel started the fabrication of the bow sprit joint to replace what I had broken. Progress is slow, but coming along. I am tired. The adrenaline has worn off and I am starting to run low now. I have lost 4 lbs since leaving Charleston, which is not bad. Now I need to put it back. Gwen arrives on Saturday morning.