Small Boat, Big Mission
Last week I had the pleasure of sharing my story with the Cruising Club of America (CCA)-Chesapeake Station for the return of their monthly luncheon in Annapolis (now mostly virtual with limited in person seating). I enjoyed spreading the message about U.S. Patriot Sailing, describing the upcoming racing season, and the details that go into an international sailing campaign. Thank you to the Chesapeake Station for inviting me, organizing the event, and your continued support. The feedback was very positive and I am happy to report The Corinthian Yacht Club of Philadelphia has asked me to share this upcoming adventure in March with our members. I look forward to heading back home, to where I first learned how to sail in a summer sailing camp on the Delaware River.
The registration for this upcoming racing season in France leading up to the Mini Transat opened earlier this week. I have registered in four races totaling 1,972 nautical miles (nm) of sailing. This will fit with my timeline of transferring off active duty from the U.S. Marine Corps in April and still meeting the 1,500 nm requirement of Classe Mini races before the big September Atlantic crossing.
Below is an overview of the four race routes and qualification route I plan on completing from June through August this year.
Four races totaling 1,972 nm of sailing, plus a 1,000 nm solo qualification sail, prior to the 4,050 nm solo Mini Transat
This upcoming racing season I expect to sail over 7,000 nm in official recorded events plus additional training sails for practice and delivery trips between ports. I am excited to undertake this adventure and represent U.S. Patriot Sailing internationally. I know this will not be easy and there are many difficult days ahead, but with your support, I know I will be successful in crossing the finish line.
Below are some of the challenges we face as we approach the starting line:
-Visa: I continue to work through the visa process to be allowed into the country due to COVID restrictions. I remain hopeful that I can work through this process since other American sailors have been let into the country earlier this year and I have recently received the vaccine.
-Registration Capacity: Each race I have registered for has its own limit on the number of competitors who can sail on the race course due to legal, administrative, and logistic considerations. This is based on the number of registrations and how they fall within each sailor’s preference sheet. Competitors submitted preference sheets to the class organizing authority in January, with expected notifications to be announced in February.
-Timing: This plan is aggressive yet possible since I will be pursuing this full time. This process certainly would have been easier if I could have traveled to France sooner and I didn’t have a full-time job in the Pentagon, but what is the fun in that?! If I kept waiting for the perfect time, this campaign would never have begun. When I bought this boat in September, I knew we were on a short timeline and I remain fully committed to this plan.
Please continue to spread word about this campaign to your family and friends. I look forward to talking to more of you before I head to France in May. Thank you for your continued support!!!
Sign up for email updates below or on my website at www.pgnoceanracing.com and find my GoFundMe page.
