Getting closer: less than 200nm to the finish!
Peter is expected to arrive in Saint François on Thursday afternoon!
After his 300nm diversion south to Cape Verde for rudder repairs plus the mandatory minimum stop of 12 hours, Peter has caught the last few boats in the fleet and it is going to be a close finish with another series boat!
Peter is expected to cross the finish line of the 24th edition of the Mini Transat tomorrow, November 16th, weather/wind pending of course.
With about 26-30 hours until Peter’s arrival here in Saint François, we have the champagne and beer cold and I have stocked the Airbnb rental with some of Peter’s favorite treats. We are all obsessively checking the tracker watching him trade 57th and 58th place with a fellow series boat. What an accomplishment is it to complete the Mini Transat but to be in last place by more than 500nm after his technical stopover in Cape Verde, for Peter to close in on the last boats in the fleet is something he should be proud of when he sees the tracker.
In talking with other Mini sailors this morning as we waited for a fellow friend and competitor to cross the finish line and arrive on the pontoon, they were all sharing stories of different challenges and things that had broken on their boats during the second leg from La Palma to Guadeloupe. I was told that each day before their weather brief and daily rankings, the race organizers would read off the list of boats that had reported a breakage onboard and the list of boats grew daily. When Peter’s fellow Mini sailors heard he was diverting for Cape Verde, they were concerned but hopeful everything was going to be okay for him. Not to my surprise, Peter has made a lasting impression on the fleet and with his fellow competitors and is a friend to all. Now that his fellow competitors can see the tracker, they are so proud and happy for Peter and how fast he has caught back up to the fleet. They are all very excited to celebrate him and his arrival tomorrow afternoon.
Leg 2 Tracking Link
After Peter crosses the finish line tomorrow, I will send out more photos and a quick update. Continue to follow these blog posts along as he will debrief his second leg of the Mini Transat and I am sure the stories will be exciting and have us all at the edge of our seats while we read them. Also check out Peter’s podcast, where he will also debrief the second leg of the race in a more informal way and I get to ask him questions to help him dig deeper and remember or relive both the good and the challenging.
Many have been asking what is the plan for the boat once Peter arrives in Guadeloupe and we are happy to report that Peter and I will be sailing the boat from Guadeloupe to Florida! We have about four weeks to do this and we plan to take our time and not rush the sail back to the US. Financially and logistically, this was an easy option for us. We are still trying to raise funds to help cover the costs of the campaign and adding on more expenses of shipping transporting a perfectly capable sailboat via ship back to the US sounded a little silly to us. Plus, what’s another 1000+nm on a 21ft boat with able crew after you have just sailed across the Atlantic by yourself?! If anyone has any suggestions as to places to stop, see or people to meet, please reply to this email and let me know! Also if you are currently in the Caribbean and would like us to stop by and say hi, let’s chat and see if we can make it happen. Everyone’s support over these past three years has been incredible and I know Peter would personally love to thank each of you if we have the chance.
Thank you again to everyone for your support over these past three years!
Make sure to check out all of the After Action Reviews and listen to Peter discuss this race on The Mini Transat Mission podcast! Click HERE to listen on Spotify.
Thank you to everyone who is following along and supporting this mission! We are grateful for the community that has rallied behind this campaign and I am proud to represent the USA and U.S. Patriot Sailing in this international race. We have reached the 54% goal for fundraising for the campaign but your donations to support this campaign are still needed, with changes in flights, logistics costs, and additional unplanned expenses that have added up quickly. Any support is greatly appreciated! Please click the Donate button below to support!
While we have some awesome sponsors, we still need your support to finish this mission. Every donation helps, THANK YOU!
If you are able to help, please consider donating through U.S. Patriot Sailing for a tax-deductible donation or through our GoFundMe page.
Learn More Here: www.pgnoceanracing.com/donate
I am racing in the Mini Transat as an ambassador for U.S. Patriot Sailing to raise awareness for this incredible non-profit team.
U.S. Patriot Sailing
Supports the veteran community navigate the hardships of transition to civilian life, rehabilitation after injury, and the complex life challenges associated with combat deployments. The organization accomplishes its mission by welcoming veterans back onto a winning team, provides camaraderie, a sense of mission accomplishment, and new dynamic experiences
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