LIBBY GREENHALGH

I am officially drawing a line under day 6 and half of day 7 screw you stupid decision making it is time to get smart like we were in the beginning. It is perfectly possible to get these miles back so here goes. Keep looking forward XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX DUN DUN DAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! THE DOLDRUMS AND USUALLY THE TUNE TO WHICH I DELIVER A POSITION REPORT. SO ON THE 22ND OCTOBER AROUND 0100 HOURS THE MAGENTA BOAT SPOTTED A BOGEY AT 1100 AND THEN ANOTHER EVEN BIGGER ONE AT 1200, THIS ONE WE WERE GOING STRIGHT THROUGH AND MARKED OUR ARRIVAL  AT THE DOLDRUMS. WITH THE RADAR ADN SATELLITE IMAGERY WE ABLE TO GET A GOOD HEADS UP ON WHAT WAS AROUND, THAT AND THE MASSIVE FLASHES OF LIGHTNING WERE PERHAPS A BIT OF A GIVE AWAY!!! BUT SHHHH, DON'T TELL ANYONE. BEING ASKED SPECIFICALLY WHAT DIRECTION I THINK THE WIND WILL BE ON A CLOUD I CAN ONLY SEE REMOTELY HALF AN HOUR AGO BY SATELLITE IMAGERY AND IMMEDIATELY ON THE RADAR...

Forgive the typos spelling but this is as it was IT IS DAY 3 OF THE FIRST LEG OF THE VOLVO OCEAN RACE SFN WE HAVE ALREADY LEFT ONE SEA AND ARE HOONING ALONG IN AN OCEAN. I SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED BY NOW AT HOW QUICK THE BOATS GO AND HOW MUCH DISTANCE WE TRAVEL. SO FAR WE HAVE SEEN DOLPHINS, PILOT WHALES AND MORE EXCITINGLY FOR ME A WATER SPOUT!!! HEAVEN KNOWS WHAT THE SOUTHERN OCEAN WILL OFFER UP. I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW EMOTIONAL I WAS WHEN I CAME TO LEAVE, I THINK THE LONG DRAWN OUT PROCESS OF SAYING GOODBYE GOT ME THINKING I WAS OFF TO SOME IMPENDING DOOM OR SOMETHING. BUT ONCE WE GOT RACING THAT DISAPPEARED. BIG THANKS TO MY FAN CLUB....DEFINITELY THE BEST ONE THERE! SO WHAT A START AND NOT O NLY THE ACTUAL START OF THE RACE ( BIT OF A MANOUVRE MESS UP) ON THE IN-PORT PART OF COURSE BUT I THINK IT ALL DEMONSTRATED HOW NIP AND TUCK THIS RACE IS GOING TO BE AND 3 DAYS IN THERE IS NO RESPITE WITH THE FLETT ALL WITHIN 10 MILES OF EACH OTHER....DOESN'T MAKE LIFE EASY ESPECIA...

I have hardly had time to say hi to the family and friends who have been amazing and popped out to Cape Town to see me. Fairly sure there was an ulterior motive judging by the whale watching, table mountain climbing and vineyards visited! Let alone to touch base with those at home a far flung parts of the world even with the power of technology. So while not personal I hope this will go someway to saying, yes I have read and loved getting your messages and cards of support, good luck and what has been going on, please keep them coming and I am sorry I haven't done better at talking to you all. I miss you all so dearly and I am so touched to receive your messages it fully keeps me going. But as I sit here in my appartment in the last panicked stages of packing leaving two bags for my family and friends to sort out getting home(not sure they have fully grasped that yet- could be an expensive airport moment!) and most likely just bits and bobs around the place that I am hoping the...