Week 9 and 10

Why did you choose to travel around the world?

For many years it has been a dream of mine to sail around the world, solo. It began as many dreams do with a short solo passage down the coast of Florida. I had such a great experience, this project just grew and grew until the best way to express the dream became to tackle the world. That is what I am now doing.

What time of year (season) is it in the country you are in now?

Well it’s summer down here, although the further south you go the cooler it gets. Kind of like the North of Canada. It is still cold in August, even though it still is summer.

Do you get scared being by yourself?

No, Trejon I don't. I was an only child, with no brothers or sisters when growing up, so perhaps I am more used to my own company. Also, even though I am on my own there are many people such as yourself, who are keeping an eye on me, so that really helps.

Name one thing you will do differently on the next leg?

Go faster!!! Just kidding. In this next leg from New Zealand to Salvador, Brazil I would like to get some more interesting food. After 5 months of freeze dried food, I could use some variety.

Will Santa be able to find you?

Yes he will and did find me. When I woke up Christmas morning I found a bag of presents in my side locker ?? How did they get there?? They were not there when I left Cape Town.............

Dashun Butterfield - P5E

Do you have any wishes for the new year?

Yes, for the safe and successful completion of the Around Alone for myself and all the competitors.

Angelita Trott - P6S

How were your wife and son?

They are just great. Even though we miss each other a lot, we can speak on the phone occasionally and my boy Tucker and I have great chats. He is only 2 1/2 so we basically talk about Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank !!!

Kijaun Millett - P6S

How do you maintain such a positive attitude?

I have always had a positive attitude and as a Manager in the Hotel business I have also tried to keep my staff ' up beat '. There are so many things that are good in life, why focus on the negative ?? Yes, I have bad days (not many) but they don't last long.

P2M

What do you expect on Leg 3?

This leg is now 3/4 finished and it has been a learning experience. The winds and waves have been massive, some very similar to the storm that caused the loss of two fishermen, a great tragedy for their families, and Bermuda. I have also seen ' mother nature ' at her most basic. There is a beauty to a storm, if you can take the emotion or fear out of the equation.

Kristen Simmons P6

How did you manage to pass Bayer Ascencia in Leg 2?
Congratulations on that!

Thank you. Well the answer was ' never give up ', even if you are waaaaaaaay in last place, as there is always a chance. Bayer Ascencia made an error by sailing too close to land on the last night into Cape Town. I stayed further offshore and had better winds and better angles for the finish.

P5E

Would you like to visit South Africa again?

Yes, Yes, Yes. I was there for such a short and hectic time, that all I saw was the BTC Velocity, a few shops, the marina and our little apartment. Table Mountain was an absolutely amazing sight. I hope to go back some day.

Shaquille Lathan P6S

Are you currently having any problems on B.T.C. Velocity?

Very few. My boat has been built very well and as long as I keep up with basic maintenance she should keep going. I have had to repair a fuel leak on the engine and a small but persistent leak in a water ballast tank. But these repairs have allowed me to learn new skills and I feel that I can handle most problems.

DiShunta
Saltus

What place do you think you will come overall in the Around Alone 2002-2003 Race?

Last. But that's OK. My goal has always been to be the first Bermudian to around the world solo. The race was the best way to do this and as all but 2 other boats are either 10 or 20 feet bigger than me, I was always going to be one of the last three. However, as the end of the race to Cape Town showed, never give up as you can always have a chance to gain a place right up to the end.

Do you get nervous at the start of a race?

No not nervous, but it does take a few days to get back into the rhythm of being at sea alone. Getting used to bouncing around, different food, crazy sleep patterns and 24 hours a day ' on duty '. But it gets easier each time. The hardest part is always leaving my family.

Do you get cold on the boat?

I would, but I have a little electric heater and it is great. The cabin temperature got down to 48 degrees the first week out of Cape Town and my heater made all the difference. I also have lots of ‘ski ' clothes, gloves, goggles, thermal underwear that help keep me warm.

If your boat tips over, what can you do to turn it back?

It will turn itself back upright on its own. This is part of the required design for all boats in this race. If a big wave knocks us over we come straight back up. Do you remember when I had my boat turned upside down in St. Georges in May last year to prove that it would come back upright?? Well that was the purpose of the test. If I did not come back upright, they would not have allowed me to enter the race.

Can B.T.C. Velocity detect a whale if it is floating on the surface?

(They know your radar detects 5 feet above the surface)

Unfortunately not. There is not any technology that can help boats (and whales ) to avoid collisions. There is someone working on it, but to date the detector only works up to 250 feet. This is not enough for a fast sail boat or even a freighter. Perhaps soon something will be invented.

Angela J. Dickinson - M2 Blue

Who or what inspired you to become a sailor?

I started sailing when my parents sent me to summer camp at age six. My dream of sailing around the world has been inspired by many people. The first person back in 1910 Joshua Slocum, my friend Neal Petersen of South Africa who I raced against in the single-handed race from Newport to Bermuda in 1995, a man called Dodge Morgan who in 1985 left Bermuda and sailed around the world returning to Bermuda 150 days later and many others.

Sierra Dowling

If you could start this trip all over again what would you do different?

Get a bigger boat !! At least 50 feet but probably 60 feet. They are so much faster and have a greater length of time in each port than us little guys in the 40 footers. But they cost BIG money !!

Andrea Francis and Marcus Weeks - M2

Have you experienced the most dangerous part of the race yet in terms of weather conditions?

No, the biggest challenge is the rounding of Cape Horn. Although I have experienced 7 gales since the start of the race, been knocked down 5 times by big waves and seen 25 foot breaking waves, the next leg will be more extreme. This was good training though.

Have you encountered any serious mechanical failures with your computer?

Of course. All computers like mess around. My main computer died on leg one, fixed for leg two and it works occasionally this leg. I have a laptop as backup and it performs perfectly which is good or I could not email you.

What happens if your food stocks run out?

I would be very hungry!! Every leg I take enough food for what I expect to be the length of time at sea, plus 10 days extra. Food and water are two things I do not want to run out of. I managed to catch 20 gallons of water during a rain squall last week, so I was able to top up my water tank. Got to be creative out here.