Two beers and a box of Kleenex

Since the number of followers of this blog leapt from about 70 to something over 500 virtually overnight back in July, it’s clear there a lot of people reading this who are not normally “into” sailing. That means they have no idea what is going to happen over the next ten days (and I don’t mean the American election).

On November 8th, in Les Sables d’Olonne in France, a British yachtsman called Alex Thompson will begin his fifth attempt to become the first non-French sailor to win the Vendee Globe round-the-world-non-stop race.

If there is any justice at all, he should succeed – if only out of pure, dogged persistence.

But don’t forget that more people have climbed Mount Everest, more people have been into Space than have ever sailed around the world alone and non-stop.

I have just watched a 50-minute YouTube video which demanded two cans of beer and a basinful of emotion as I sat here in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire waiting for my mainsail to come back from the sailmaker and, I must say, I ended up feeling that some people really are special.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, grab a box of tissues and click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puIgYu7q7ck&feature=emb_rel_end

3 Responses to Two beers and a box of Kleenex

  • Well what a guy! To keep on revisiting the race like that, such determination.
    Really hope he makes it this time.

  • Alex Thompson – Awesome! How one person can handle/race a machine like that in the Southern Ocean is beyond my comprehension.

  • Thanks for alerting us to the Vendee Globe John. Happy memories of Ellen M doing it. Shall now follow Alex starting Nov 8