LIBBY GREENHALGH

So the start time is finally fixed and we are off at 0900hrs New Zealand time on Wednesday 18th Everything is packed here, each day we have been postponed more people disappear and more of the Race Village disappears. While it has definitely been the right decision it is shame that we are not going to get the true spectacle of the crowds coming to wave you off on your merry way, from strangers to family ad friends to shore crew and race crew for me it is a real buzz and really sets the scene to get racing, especially on this Leg. The big Leg the one many people still feels defines the Volvo Ocean Race. But I am sure glad that we re not heading straight out into Pam she might not look like much these days on the satellite imagery but she looks like a pretty big onion to me!!! I have about 14 hours until I will be checking out my hotel room and wheeling my kit bag through the Auckland Viaduct to be packed into Air Freight. All the multitude of electronic devices I have to keep in co...

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...

Right now is the night before we set off and I had hoped I would have had time to keep you all updated but as with everything and in particular as Peter Bentley (for those that know him) would say  or words to effect, there is never enough time you are always fighting it. Sooooo I have failed you all on that part and posted three in one........which means this will read a bit forwards going backwards and forwards! But at 1231 today, I remember because I looked at my watch, I saw our boat going out for the Pro-Am race and it all hit me like running into a brick wall..not that I have done that. I am about to to set sail around world, don't get me wrong we are stopping along the way but this is really it. the fanfare and buzz and press conferences made me realise how big this is and the rather tricky weather is not helping In my usual Libby way I had a typical wibble about it and the phrase 'don't gooooo' was banding around in my head until first of all I saw  Sharon w...

I am coming to the end of my last time at home before I start the race. R and R at home before 9 months of whirlwind thrills spills, ups and downs. As I come to the end of it the reality begins to settle in, I never realised how hard I would find leaving. Though those that know me will be chuckling as they know I never like to go away anywhere! My favourite saying whenever anyone leaves, "don't goooooooooo!" Coming back to haunt me now! I spent the first few days of my break pretty much asleep after leg 0. I think it was the whole love your own bed and when you finally stop your body really does stop..... Though my mind struggles to and I still wake every 2 hours or so thinking which way are we going where are the other boats. I guess that is what the next 9 months have in store. It would seem when you are going to set off off and away for several months you need to get your life in order, something I am not a fan of doing. So there have been some boring days doing ...

Yes we are here. We have arrived in Alicante the starting venue of the Volvo Ocean Race.  Training time is nearly over and the race is upon us. For me the last couple weeks have been pretty big and feel more like 2 months. It was weird sailing away from the UK (I am back for one more break) but there was a little part of me that realised how fast this has all happened. In January this year I was out in Rio supporting the British Sailing Team on the road to Rio and the Olympic Games . My third trip to the venue and starting to get comfortable there. By May I had increased my offshore miles by a bizillion times and had crossed the Atlantic twice trialling out as the navigator onboard Team SCA.  On the 5th of September shortly before 1800 we were greeted in Alicante Race Village ready for the final preparations before the race begins. It is true what they say a lot can happen in a year! The trip down had some interesting moments from lobster pot catching ...