EDS Atlantic Challenge Awards

... Team Gartmore take time out to announce the results of their EDS Atlantic Challenge Award Ceremony

Congratulations to Kingfisher on a fast and safe Atlantic crossing. With 500 miles to go we have decided to have our own Award Ceremony aboard Gartmore. The judges have had a tough time working out the worthy winners but here are the results.....

The Golden Pillow
A much sought-after prize for the person who has slept the most during the race. After a close contest, the fact that he has actually developed bed-sores secured the award for...
Paolo Manganelli

The Platinum Pillow for Special Performance
Awarded for the best one-off sleep performance, especially well-deserved as it was managed while dealing with the stresses of co-skippering the boat. For his solid seven-hour mid-Atlantic snooze the prize goes to...
Josh Hall

Sleepwalking Award
For consistently wandering around the deck in a dazed and confused state in that period between being woken for his watch and actually waking up. Not to be trusted with much more than making a cup of tea for his first 15 minutes on each watch, and frequently informed that he has put his boots on the wrong feet, it's another piece of silverware for...
Paolo Manganelli

Bunk Breaking Record
For managing to break three of the four carbon reinforced bunks aboard, for sheer consistency and excellent free-fall style, this award goes to America and...
Brad Van Liew

The Dr DoLittle Award
This Discovery Channel-sponsored prize has actually been awarded outside of Team Gartmore. For dedication to communicating with the thousands of whales and dolphins that accompany them wherever they go, well done...
Team Kingfisher

Best Crash Tack Award
Just imagine -- it's blowing 40 knots outside, the seas are high, the boat is pounding at ten knots into the teeth of yet another gale.

The exhausted team has decided that the autopilot can steer for a while and are all sat around the chart table drying out -- boots off, Mustos hanging, everything is fine. Our award winner decides he would like to listen to Radio Spain. He flicks on the breaker for the SSB and simultaneously, with perfect technique and timing, flicks OFF the breaker for the pilot! The boat rounds up beautifully head to wind and does a class crash tack. We all enjoyed that 30 minutes in the wave-strewn cockpit dressed only in our thermals, well done...
Javier Sanso

The"Does Anyone Know What's Going On?" Award
With no clear individual winner the judges have unanimously awarded this prize to...
Team Gartmore

The Bill Clinton Award
To be awarded after the Baltimore stopover.

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