Hello Team,
How are you doing this humpback Wednesday, getting set for the Race Finish celebrations at Portsmouth? What on earth are you going to do with all the additional time, now the Race Viewer will finish until the next edition? What is your exit/transition strategy?
I would just like to thank you for your support over the last eleven months, not just to the Bekezela team, but to me personally. There have been quite a few of you whom have approached me over the race at different stopovers and told me that you have enjoyed reading my blogs. Often I have been told it's the first blog you read, even before reading the blog from your family/friend’s boat. I didn’t realise until recently, Bekezela’s, was the first listed!
It was also commented that my blogs were truthful, which interestingly enough, my crew, at times, didn’t like the honesty. My blogs have been a cathartic release for me, I have tried to tell my Clipper Race journey on a personal level, as I found it and I would like to thank you for listening.
My Clipper Race journey started in 2014, when it was suggested that I should try it. “Hartshorn, I have found you a job with your name all over it. Personally, it's my idea of living hell.” Those were the words of a good friend and my sailing mentor, one of the best instructors I have ever met, Roland Bowen, as he thrust the Clipper Race Skipper advert from Yachting Monthly in my hands. Little did I know that brief interaction would become my quest, an ambition that would consume the next ten years of my life.
I would like to thank a number of people who have helped me achieve this goal. Firstly Moshe, who took me sailing for the first time back in 1983. I had no idea what I was doing but loved the fact you could move a boat just using the wind, a simple pleasure that still energises me. Nigel, whom I crewed for a number of years and one day, after I had completely messed up an evolution on the boat, turned around and said “David, just accept the fact you can’t be good at everything.” That was a red rag to a bull, and he might be right, but it spurred me on to be the best I could be at sailing. Roland, who I have mentioned, and without a doubt I wouldn’t be writing this if he hadn’t given me the confidence and sailing skill set to make a second career out of a passion.
On the Clipper Race front, firstly Kristy (Squires), Ma’am, who as then was in 2015 the admin support in training, helped me find my way around Clipper Race training and made me feel welcome. Mark Light and Ben Bowely for seeing potential and giving me the opportunity, even if we didn’t always see eye to eye ;-). Dale Smyth, who in the 2017-18 edition was a fellow skipper and a nightmare in Costa Rica, but became my line manager and a friend.
The Number 1’s. The original, Lyndsay, whom I have to say I am very unlikely to cross the North Pacific with now (please note the lack of the word, never). Hannah, Number 1v2, who it was the honour to cross her first ocean with,and was, for some reason, terrified I was going to tell her off when I caught her smoking. And finally #1, Maisie, whom I am not sure if I led astray in some stopovers, or if she led me. The last 46,000nm has been a blast.
I must also thank Lorraine, who not only supported me through the roller coaster of a year in the 2017-18 race, but with my experience on the North Pacific in 2016. Beanie, must also get a mention for her dedication to keeping me updated about the outside world throughout the 2019-20(22) and the current edition via my boat email. Also thank you, in advance for organising the home coming supper on Saturday.
Finally, and she isn’t going to appreciate being singled out and named, which is so characteristic of her humility, Anita. Without a doubt, her unexpected support, counsel, friendship and of course, applying Rule 1, stopped me leaving the race around Leg 5. Going forward, I am going to be entering a major transition of ‘what is next?’, having finally achieved this goal.
I was not looking forward to what happens after the Clipper 2023-24 Race, as I had no idea what the future looked like, maybe I still don’t. However, I am excited about it now, as going forward, I know it will be fun and based on what's happened to date. Lots of laughter, so for me that's achieved something remarkable.
Thank you, standing by this channel.