Christmas Greetings 2008

Christmas Holidays are always a time for reflection. So many good things, with some bad things entwined. We are still celebrating the successful circumnavigation and Obama’s election.

Of course the destruction of the Covey Island boatyard and the Schooner Maggie B remains the horrible codicil to the story of the 38,400 NM trip. The world-wide implosion of the economy makes it hard sometimes to remember the sunny beaches of Brazil of the glory of the Capes.

But the insurance has paid off for both Covey Island and me, and Nigel Irens is sharpening his pencils and beginning to carve some models. I will have his first drawing up on this web site soon.

Sailing news is quite focused on the Vendee Globe. It is great to see Derek Hatfield of Canada in the race. He is a ways back from the leaders, but still one of the 18 competitors out of the original 30. The news of the great rescue of Yann Elias was electrifying. Michael Desjoyeux is in the lead with 10,800 NM to go. Amazingly, three other boats are within 150 NM of him, so it is still very much a close race. They should round the Horn for New Years.

Best of the season to All.