Final few miles

Paul Larsen reports from on board Doha 2006 now into the Persian Gulf

Lying below decks in what would have otherwise been total silence last night, you could have been mistaken for thinking that Doha 2006 was a power boat being driven by the winches overhead. Such was the steady commotion as we inched our way through the Straits of Hormuz with sail change after sail change, tacking and gybing in a near non-existent breeze. We would have one configuration up which would allow us to 'ghost' along for awhile but then the wind would either fade or gradually take us off course hence requiring another change to another configuration or tack.

The carbon fibre construction of Doha 2006 does nothing to baffle the sound of the winches... in fact it probably amplifies it down below. You often lay in your bunk and try and work out exactly what is going on on decks by the sound and order of the winches.

Last night was busy. Once technically back in the Persian Gulf we went seamlessly between the two modes of sailing that have we have had to master in the last 4,000 miles. We went from nothing to bashing. Straight from having everything up to two reefs and staysail trying to slow down so as not to break the boat. Aye yi yi!!! Someone give us a break up there.

When we came on deck again just around dawn we helped Thomas, Sharon and Johnny shake out the reefs as we headed back into yet another parking lot. They were thankful for the sun to come up as they had spent the night surrounded by ships of all shapes and sizes charging in and out of the Gulf. Some nights it just seems that you are on a collision course with every one that comes at you. We took over the deck at 0400GMT and were doing only around 5 knots. For the next four hours that was the highpoint. We went back to drift mode stuck between an island that is an Iranian military base and a busy traffic separation scheme for shipping - two areas you don't want to go, especially with no wind. A small boat came out from the military base but they seemed to just want to have a close-up look out of curiosity at what must be a very unusual sight for these waters. We handed over a 'dead' wheel and a limp set of sails at 1200GMT. There is nothing more that can be done on our part to speed up our arrival.

It takes a lot of factors to make an adventure and this is all just part of ours. The big crawl to the line. We have less than 200 miles to go. It really is about to finish and some on board are already getting in a reflective mode. When we get in some time tomorrow we will all be pretty happy with what we have accomplished.

When I arrived in Doha to join this ship two weeks prior to the start it didn't look like it was going anywhere let alone non-stop around the world. The job list could have been rolled out like a toilet roll. We sailed the boat only once prior to the start. A mere couple of hours up and down outside the marina a few days before. This is NOT recommended procedure and the oceans of the world are notoriously unforgiving of such an approach.

We knew this but this was our challenge. It appears that it is one that we have all risen to. Tomorrow as I run around the boat taking as many pictures and as much video footage as possible as we cross the line, I will also make sure to take some strong mental pictures of this time and place in my life. A non-stop circumnavigation is one of lifes grandest adventures and we are all extremely fortunate to be able to add it as a chapter in our personal storybooks. It's too easy to sit back and compare it to other perhaps more spectacular trips but for those of us onboard Doha 2006 who have lived and shared every moment, this one is unique.

Tomorrow's arrival will be a moment to be savoured for us and the rest of the team who have helped make this event happen. We have done our best and it looks like our best is going to be good enough.

Paul.
p.s. I hope that there's going to be some breeze at the finish because I'm in the mood for some hangin' off the life-lines hull flying action. Let's face it, after tens of thousands of miles of being careful...we deserve it. Flying a hull high across the finish line is one of the total cowboy, show-off acts that blew me away the first time I raced a Hobie Cat and I guess I never got over it. The good people of Qatar have put on a big show for us so we owe it to them to return the favour. I want to see this thing on its ear. I want cover shots. I want people to say 'Bloody hell, did they recover that?' Putting me on a sheet and expecting me to ease it would be a mistake... nope, best you let me drive for this one (I think I saw a cowboy hat onboard somewhere earlier). So I hope someone upstairs will throw us a bone here. Fingers crossed.