Maria Rayner
Maria Rayner‘s observational, fortnightly column from a girl’s perspective…
I’ve been travelling round fairly a bit currently. On the weekend I loved a gastronomic retreat in Argentina, and now I’m hanging out deep within the Southern Ocean, someplace south of Nemo Level, underneath sail, dodging icebergs and marvelling at dolphins.
You might be questioning, pricey readers, at my intrepidness, doubting my sanity or maybe simply questioning the place I acquired my vaccination certificates for journey. (Has that change into a factor but? One by no means is aware of how the principles will change by the point articles are printed!) Nicely, not one of the above. These are my newest wheezes to get by way of lockdown.
Again in October (or was it November?), anyway, the darkish days of 2020, a member our crusing membership WhatsApp group, let’s name him Bob, urged following the Vendée Globe yacht race.
Approaching the melancholy of Lockdown 2, I urged we make it extra attention-grabbing by holding a sweepstake and roping in different members of the family of our group to cowl the 33 competitor race card. 28 folks had been sport, so a socially distanced draw was held (time-lapsed video proof), with a number of boats left over for folks to leap ship, in case of untimely retirement.
And it’s been nice enjoyable. For land-lubbing Guildford sorts, the Vendée Globe was born from the Golden Globe Race of 1968, when 9 solo opponents set off from Falmouth to sail across the three Capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin and Horn.
The eventual winner took 313 days to circumnavigate the Earth and have become a family identify – are you aware it?* I say the winner, he was, in actual fact, the one participant to return to the Cornish port.
The Vendee Globe route map
In 1989, navigator Philippe Jeantot, urged a brand new race: solo, circumnavigation and continuous. At the moment’s race units off from Les Sables d’Olonne, an Atlantic Port, and is extra avidly adopted in France than their well-known cycle Tour. It’s gruelling. Solely half of the opponents in that first race completed, incomes the title “Everest of the Seas”.
The beginning of the Vendee Globe race – Picture vendeeglobe.org
And what a 12 months to comply with the race. Motion-packed with the entrance runners presently ripping up the Brazilian coast, the race is extra open than any earlier. Six sailors are inside 50km of the chief, and on condition that dangerous climate and worse tactical selections, to not point out equipment failure or damage, can alter the rankings inside moments, the sweepstake potatoes are on the sting of their couches.
Alex Thompson’s boat in Hugo Boss colors – Picture vendeeglobe.org
British favorite Alex Thompson, crusing in his fifth Globe with the distinctive black livery of Hugo Boss, was pressured to retire from the race in November, passing the baton briefly to Samantha Davies earlier than her boat was broken in a storm. The present main Brit is Pip Hare, and following her is nerve-wracking as she needed to restore her rudder, the bit that steers a ship, a number of days in the past.
The Vendee Globe girls
You’ll discover that this yacht race is open to each female and male sailors who compete on an equal foundation. The six girls have been superb position fashions and pictures of them climbing masts, being tossed about in enormous waves, miles from one other soul, endeavor repairs with fundamental tools in treacherous circumstances that may have many male engineers flummoxed is awe-inspiring.
When Kevin Escoffier’s boat despatched a quick SOS sign earlier than disappearing from radar screens, the perilous nature of the race was highlighted and our light-hearted Whatsapp banter felt voyeuristic and inappropriate. Wanting again at our chatter within the days earlier than he was rescued by one other competitor reveals how emotionally concerned we’d all change into, cheering on our randomly chosen yachtsmen to the pleased conclusion.
Maria’s Vendee Globe alternative – Alexia Barrier – Picture vendeeglobe.org
The closeness of our involvement has been potential due to expertise. The ladies, particularly journalist Pip Hare, are proficient at harnessing social media, a lot to the delight of their sponsors and aid of their households, I believe.
My boat, TSE – for my Planet, sailed by Alexia Barrier (see YouTube clip under – it’s in French), is method again in 24th place and nonetheless to spherical infamous Cape Horn, however I cherished the current Instagram picture at Nemo Level (most watery place on Earth), cuddling her teddy bear in stunning Southern Hemisphere sunshine: very uplifting. Because of Bob for introducing the concept.
Different journeys
My second journey tour is extra prosaic. As soon as extra contained inside our 4 partitions for Lockdown 3 (sorry, I used to be making an attempt to not point out it), with not even {the teenager} allowed out for the every day aid of faculty, I actually couldn’t face one other spherical of the Zoom quiz.
Reaching into the depths of the Land of Make Imagine, I requested the household to place the names of three international locations they’d like to go to right into a straw hat. The concept was to consider locations with attention-grabbing meals, drinks, movies, cultures, language… something we may delve into to make the weekend completely different from the monotony of the weekdays.
Do you know?
In Argentina, the eighth-largest nation on the planet, the nationwide language is Spanish, though in one of many provinces (Chubut) 25ok folks communicate Welsh – this compares to 861ok audio system in Wales.
Empanadas
Ricardo Darin is broadly accepted as the most well-liked Argentinian actor. Catch award-winning movie The Secret of their Eyes – what an ending!
There’s some very tasty Argentine food and drinks, with a Mediterranean affect: empanadas, barbeque steak on the asado (grill), huevos rancheros, malbec.
Huevos rancheros gentle
By the way, thanks and Glad Birthday to Wikipedia – 20 years previous this week – what did we do with out you?
This weekend we’re off to the US of A. My alternative. With waffles, burgers, fritters, Tex-Mex, pizza pie, and Budweiser on the menu, I feel the post-Christmas weight loss plan is on maintain, as you’d count on with a ‘vacation’.
The place will we go for movies: Singing within the Rain? Thelma and Louise? One thing traditionally cringy with John Wayne or certainly one of Stephen King’s smalltown tales, like Stand By Me? Or how a few Michael Moore documentary? Any options please stick within the “Depart a Reply” field under.
My final line goes to American, Muhammad Ali: “The person who has no creativeness has no wings.”
*Reply: Robin Knox-Johnston
Supply: www.guildford-dragon.com
