The stuff of dreams
Whichever way you look at it the Vendee Globe is the craziest* of races. You would never gather together a bunch of fell runners and point them at Mount Everest with a prize for first back to base camp (at least I hope not).
But the Vendee is the ocean equivalent of mountaineering extremes undertaken as a race. It's an open book of human endeavour with drama on every page. This year's Vendee has delivered everything - from early retirements, technical failures, rescues at sea and high speed challenges that collapsed in mid-charge.
A few reputations have suffered but most have been enhanced and few more so than that of Steve White who sails in to Les Sables d'Olonne today in eighth place. White deserves a big welcome because here is someone who put everything on the line for his dream. Updating the blog, I'm reading that thousands have turned out to cheer him in.
He is not a wealthy man and has spent almost everything he has on this race. A sponsorship deal fell through and within a few days of the start he was unsure of a race sponsor until a private individual came forward with the funds. I don't who this individual is but I applaud their willingness to show faith in White's indomitable spirit.
Before this race, White was barely known in UK yacht racing. He didn't have a background in sailing but came to it in his twenties. There's no pedigree of dinghy competition or Olympic-class sailing in his past. But there is enormous ambition and the the kind of grit you see only too rarely these days.
Today he will sail in to Les Sables, having achieved a feat that defeated 19 of his heavily-sponsored fellow starters. It's the kind of story book finish you normally find in film scripts. I cannot imagine that he entertained hopes of a top 10 finish at the start but here he is, a round-the-world sailor at the end of the world's most gruelling single-handed yacht race.
Whatever else he does in life, that's one hell of an achievement to remember in long winter nights with the grandkids. But somehow I don't think White will rest on his laurels. His boat is called Toe in the Water but it's full immersion from here on in. There may be bigger things ahead for him, but, however long he lives, I cannot think there will be a sweeter moment than coming home today. I hope he enjoys it as much as those who have followed the race have been inspired by his example.
As he sailed in today, someone in the crowd had a placard that said it all: "Thanks Steve, you have made us dream."
* With the possible exception of the Volvo Ocean Race, arguably crazier still.
But the Vendee is the ocean equivalent of mountaineering extremes undertaken as a race. It's an open book of human endeavour with drama on every page. This year's Vendee has delivered everything - from early retirements, technical failures, rescues at sea and high speed challenges that collapsed in mid-charge.
A few reputations have suffered but most have been enhanced and few more so than that of Steve White who sails in to Les Sables d'Olonne today in eighth place. White deserves a big welcome because here is someone who put everything on the line for his dream. Updating the blog, I'm reading that thousands have turned out to cheer him in.
He is not a wealthy man and has spent almost everything he has on this race. A sponsorship deal fell through and within a few days of the start he was unsure of a race sponsor until a private individual came forward with the funds. I don't who this individual is but I applaud their willingness to show faith in White's indomitable spirit.
Before this race, White was barely known in UK yacht racing. He didn't have a background in sailing but came to it in his twenties. There's no pedigree of dinghy competition or Olympic-class sailing in his past. But there is enormous ambition and the the kind of grit you see only too rarely these days.
Today he will sail in to Les Sables, having achieved a feat that defeated 19 of his heavily-sponsored fellow starters. It's the kind of story book finish you normally find in film scripts. I cannot imagine that he entertained hopes of a top 10 finish at the start but here he is, a round-the-world sailor at the end of the world's most gruelling single-handed yacht race.
Whatever else he does in life, that's one hell of an achievement to remember in long winter nights with the grandkids. But somehow I don't think White will rest on his laurels. His boat is called Toe in the Water but it's full immersion from here on in. There may be bigger things ahead for him, but, however long he lives, I cannot think there will be a sweeter moment than coming home today. I hope he enjoys it as much as those who have followed the race have been inspired by his example.
As he sailed in today, someone in the crowd had a placard that said it all: "Thanks Steve, you have made us dream."
* With the possible exception of the Volvo Ocean Race, arguably crazier still.
Labels: Les Sables d'Olonne, Mount Everest, Steve White, Toe in the Water
posted by Richard Donkin at
9:49 AM
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