A check in from your armchair sailor here. The most recent Yellowbrick update has our favorite race boat 53 miles from the finish. At this point, they're able to taste those margaritas!
The leaderboard has them at 3rd in class and 5th overall. This may change depending on their actual finish time, so it's too early to say for sure how they will finish. If you're new to sailboat racing, you might be looking at the same Yellowbrick graphic I am and, seeing how Westward is likely to be the last boat across the finish line, are wondering how that's possible. Handicaps, baby! Sometimes, being old and heavy has its advantages. The finish positions are based on the amount of time the race took for each boat. But, it's not the actual time. Each boat's time is adjusted (or corrected) to account for a whole bunch of things. The idea is that this makes it more fair for different types of boats to race against each other.
Anyway, I'm very proud of Westward, but not surprised. That boat is full of some of the finest sailors I know. And, that boat loves them, so she performs for them. We call Willie "The Boat Whisperer" because even when there's no wind, he makes ol' Westward go. And Sam, watch out. That guy knows how to get speed out of both boat and crew in any conditions. With those two in charge, Westward doesn't know how to not do well.
If you've never had the experience of arriving somewhere after a few days at sea, you should. It's really something. I'll not adequately capture the experience here, but I'll try. The last day, when you know you're near the end, a whole different mood comes over the boat. It's excitement and happiness and a sense of accomplishment. Seeing and smelling land for the first time after more than a week awakens a whole new you. The tiredness and soreness melts away. You look forward to seeing loved ones, flushing a toilet, and taking a shower. It's a bittersweet experience, though. Knowing that the simplicity and quietness is about to come to an end is a bit sad. I was once told that everyone has a food they most look forward to. Mine is cheeseburgers and in those last few hours at sea, I can just about taste one. On Westward things are being scrubbed and polished because, hey, you gotta look good for your adoring fans!
Shauneen has taken on the burden of meeting the boat in PV and we've got some friends who are cruising their own boat and happen to be in Mexico now, so Westward will have a warm welcome.
Stay tuned for updates as they come in!
Go Westward!
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