Final miles

Brian Thompson closes on Plymouth and the final miles of his Vendee Globe qualifier

Well, this voyage is nearly over: 5500 miles travelled in 22 days, a solo circuit of the North Atlantic which will end where it began - in Plymouth.

The last day has seen picture postcard sailing as Pindar has glided across perfectly flat seas at 12 to 14 knots. I have been just at the very leading edge of the next depression, literally 20-30 miles from the calm zone in front, which has been rolling up in front of me as I have headed east. So I have been surfing the very first movement of a big atmospheric wave for 24 hours. Like a surfer I was first held fast, locked on a windless ocean, then felt the first pressure and was up and off. Spinning my arms on winch pedestals to harness the power of the wind, rather than paddling against the water itself.
Normally, unless you are on a maxi-multihull depressions will catch you up and spit you out the back quite quickly, but where this depression was slowed against the bulk of Europe, I could keep up. As I pass Lands End now, the Coastguard at Falmouth were issuing gale force 8 and severe gale 9 for the waters I have just passed through, but those winds can't catch me this time. Saw many fishing boats sitting on a quiet ocean in the last 200 miles - they will be preparing themselves for a rough night tonight.

As I crossed the Continental Shelf yesterday it was incredible how the sea changed colour from a bright, deep, ocean blue, to one tinged with green and grey, and this change occurred when I crossed the 2000 metre mark, a few miles before the 200 metre deep start of the flat shelf. The sea life increased too, with far more sea birds, including a gliding Northern Gannet, a wonderful flyer, the albatross of the North.

By this evening I should be sailing in behind Plymouth breakwater, where three of our team, Andy, Jonny and Jamie will be coming out in a RIB to sail with me back to Gosport. It will be good to see some friendly faces and they have even promised to bring pizza with them, I cannot wait.

These guys will be working hard to get the boat ready for the Round the Island Race, and more importantly to tackle the myriad of jobs to make the boat as perfect as possible for the Vendee Globe Race. It’s great that they have made the journey down to Plymouth to have a feel of the boat offshore.

Pindar has proved itself to be quite exceptional on this long and varied trip. There are of course, small jobs to make it utterly reliable, efficient and more comfortable for a three month voyage, but in almost all areas, she is ready to go, and this is a testament to all those who have been involved with her since Andrew Pindar first decided to build her.
Thanks to Andrew and everyone for making this voyage a success.

Brian