HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIMONE
20th February 2003

It’s Simone Bianchetti’s 35th birthday and the Italian sailor is spending it alone in the Southern Ocean. It is not the first birthday he has spent alone at sea. Two years ago, while racing in the Vendee Globe (solo non-stop around the world), he celebrated his 33rd birthday. For a man known as much for his poetry as his sailing ability, spending quiet time on important days like this is more in keeping with lifestyle than spending it in some crowded bistro in Milan. In a satellite phone call Simone described the conditions on board as he heads for Cape Horn. "It's really cold, there are strong gusts, but the sailing is progressing well and the boat is in excellent condition. I always have to be alert. I've seen several ice blocks and there have been nights with no moon during which I had to slow my progress and move my route more to the north. Other nights there has been great visibility, with the moon illuminating the sea it’s like daytime." When asked if he was cooking up something special to celebrate another birthday at sea he replied, "well I have decided that if I want to do something different for my birthday, I am not going to eat pasta today!"

While Bianchetti is enjoying his birthday he is still racing hard and at the last poll he was in fourth place, 55 miles behind Graham Dalton on Hexagon sailing at 12 knots. He is pleased with his progress and position. "Last night it was very tough with gusts up to 40 knots," he said. "Now I have managed to put out more sail and I am sailing at a good pace, 18 to 20 knots of speed with a southwesterly wind at 25 knots. Cape Horn is not many days ahead. I said it already. I think the real race for the leg will start from there." Once around the infamous Cape the wind will be more from the front, rather than behind, and the yachts will begin a long, hard slog to Salvador.

In celebration of Simone’s birthday we include two of his poems from his recently published book. They have been translated from Italian by his wife Inbar (with thanks).

Poem #1
Returning to breath the scent of cicatrized places by favorable tales,
old is the portal as the wind which crosses it,
ancient breath of spiced roses of summer colors,
human vapors
colors of animal hilarity ,
A GESTURE
A SIGN
A SMILE
Which opens the soul, and lets winged thoughts fly away,
albatross shaped.

Poem #2
I CHASE OCEAN BUTTERFLIES,
SWEET AND INTRIGUING,
WARM DIVE,
FRIEZ OF NOCTURNAL WHALES,
SILENT,
WHISPERING YOU THE SECRET,
KISSING YOUR EYES,
YOUR VOICE IS GENTLE,
OBSESSION WHICH MACHINE-GUNS MY SOUL.

--- Brian Hancock great.circle@verizon.net

Source: Around Alone Official Site