Ocean Planet Update- On to Horta

by Bruce Schwab on 14 May 2005 On the way to Horta, Faial, Azores...
Position 46 18N, 17 17W @ 0930 UT


As we plod along through a nearly windless zone, near the center of a forming mild low pressure system, I'm thankful that we can now use the motor to take a shortcut to better wind. But the noise is awful! During the Vendee I sometimes went for over 3 days without using the engine to charge the batteries, thanks to our Solara solar panels. The constant quiet was nice then....I sort of miss being on the race but I am glad it's over.


On May 10, we sailed from Les Sables d'Olonne, the start and finish of the greatest adventure of my life (so far). There was an emotional turnout of a number of our great friends and supporters who we came to know so well there. I will miss you all (just to name a few!): Marcel, Chantal, Alice & family, Melissa & family, Laurence, Lydie, Olivier & Crystal Tarot, Francoise, Stephen Chemin, our American friends Corey and Heather, along with so many others. It was hard to leave! Thankfully we will be seeing some of them soon in the U.S. this summer.


In the meantime, we are on our way to Horta, on the island of Faial, in the Azores. My trusty crew is Andrew Roberts of London (ex-Kiwi), along with Ken Scott and Jason Brinckman (also a displaced Kiwi!) of Portland Oregon. The last time I was there was in 2002 after my transatlantic qualifier for the 02/03 Around Alone. Some of you were getting my updates back then, and might remember that I painted our Ocean Planet logo on the concrete dock.


A lot has happened in the roughly 3.5 months since my February 25 finish of the Vendee Globe. Even after several presentations and seminars, I feel a bit mystified by the last 5 years of dreaming, preparation, and sailing around the world twice. I often feel that I don't deserve so much attention, as it was the work of so many supporters that made it possible.


Although it was very sad to leave Les Sables and all of our great friends there, I am really looking forward to the Ocean Planet Homecoming Celebration, in Portland on June 3...check it out on our new current events page on our website by Nacio Interactive.


Hope to see you there, the more the merrier!


Bruce Schwab, Skipper
USA 05/Ocean Planet
Web: www.bruceschwab.com
Education: www.oceanplanet.org
Email: bruce@bruceschwab.com
Phone: 510-847-9950