Graham Dalton, reflections on leg 1 |
| Monday, 30 September 2002 |
| I have reached a safe haven, Brixham, and coming home to a warm, rapturous welcome made the trying times I’ve had on this leg fade into the past. Now I’m on terra firma and my shore team has started preparing Hexagon for the next leg, I’m able to reflect on the last two weeks of racing at sea.
There is one thing I’m sure of, Hexagon is a pedigree racing machine. Not long into the first leg, I found myself in 25 knots of wind, surfing down waves at 32 knots. What more can I say, this boat is fast!
As you will know, I have been unlucky with gear failure on board. Most significantly, losing the batons from the mainsail, which curtailed the sleigh ride somewhat and greatly affected my overall position. Naturally, I am annoyed by this and the small problems, but the most important aspect of these situations is learning from your experiences and making sure the s0ame things will never happen again.
I am pleased with the mental preparation I have put into this race. I’ve always pushed myself through the good times and bad, and have at times been surprised at my own determination. For example, having discovered a rope stuck around my radar some 30ft above the deck, I shinned up the mast without a second’s thought and released it. I am not a man who relishes heights, even on a stable platform, but the resolve I have to race and win has supplied me with the strength I need to perform such tasks.
Now in Brixham, I shall spend my time visiting and introducing local schoolchildren to the HSBC Global Education Challenge, as well as preparing myself and Hexagon for the restart on October 13, where I shall sail hard to try and become the first Open 60 into Cape Town.
Fair winds,
Graham Dalton |
Email this page to a friend  |
|
