THE WHIM OF THE WIND GODS
19th April 2003

The wind gods have dealt some unkind hands this leg. They have also been very kind to others and Bernard Stamm and Simone Bianchetti must be smiling to themselves as the scoot north in the northeast trades. They barely slowed down for the doldrums and now have fair winds all the way to New England. One other skipper who has enjoyed fine conditions and is turning in a stellar performance is Brad Van Liew on Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America. Brad is not only leading Class 2, he is ahead on Pindar and Solidaires and nipping at the heels of Ocean Planet. At last poll Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America was only 47 miles behind Ocean Planet and 124 ahead of Solidaires. In fact both Brad and his closest rival Tim Kent on Everest Horizontal are leaving the Class 1 back markers in the dirt.

As Brad returns to the Northern Hemisphere his thoughts are turning towards home and the end of the race. "After the many months and many thousand miles I have finally returned to the Northern Hemisphere," he wrote. "I feel like home is just ahead now. I know that for the rest of my life I will yearn to remember and re-live the experiences of the last few months so I continue to tell myself to enjoy the moment, however I am still anxious to complete this odyssey and see Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America gently tugging at her docking lines in Newport."

Emma Richards on Pindar is making the most of her lousy situation. She is one of the boats that have not been treated kindly. She was only a few miles further offshore when the boats closer to land snuck ahead in fresher wind and she has been paying the price ever since. At least she has company as she noted in hie log. "Well I have crossed the equator, reached the trade winds and am sailing now at about 9 knots," she wrote. "Staying east of the fleet turned out to be about the worst decision yet so I have cut out my work for myself. Over night I could see Thierry's strobe light as he crossed in front of me. He is now about 7 miles from my bow! At least I have company in my error." To celebrate crossing the big line Emma enjoyed a mugful of wine with her dinner and toasted King Neptune with a splash for himself. "Just to let you know that my gift to Neptune when I crossed the equator this time was some wine from a very fine bottle of Dry Creek Vineyard, 2000 Heritage Clone Zinfandel! Thank you Brad for that . . . . I have to admit I cracked it open the evening before last and enjoyed a mugful with my last couple of dinners. Very pleasant, and eased the frustration slightly!

All the skippers will be enjoying a nice joint of ham and a couple of bottles of wine as the celebrate Easter tomorrow. Well, these skippers have nothing if not well developed imaginations and I am sure that their plates of freeze dried slop will look a little like Easter dinner. Join me in wishing them a happy Easter egg hunt and a safe sail to Newport.

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

Source: Around Alone Official Site