As the A Team heads off shift and Team "Handsome" (self named) heads out for their 6 hour daytime gruel, there is a minute of respite to jot down a few thoughts. This has been a long trip, a really long trip. Not just the last 15 days but 2 years prior to the start. That's a long time to be focussed on a goal that is now only 200 miles and a day away. A few mixed emotions for sure. There really isn't much left to do here except sail for Pailolo channel and the finish line, although ocean racing never lets up as just this am we discovered the bow sprit had really torn itself apart from the unreasonable loads of the last few weeks. We are now flying the kites from the anchor roller old school style and thanking our lucky stars Erik noticed this before we flew the kite at 5am and that it didn't happen last night when it was dark and we would have had a 15 lb weight flinging around the boat uncontrollably. How was that for a long sentence? Anyways: Fred- Freddy. The man with a million jokes and hilarious stories that can sleep anywhere anytime. Thanks for keeping morale light, thanks for driving at night despite the hilarity of it. You took one for the team and that's what kind of guy you are. Gus- Augustus. The Mayor of Victoria and the man who knows everyone. As the only guy who has done this before, thanks for keeping a reality check on us. "You f'ing want to do what?..." Gus wrote another 500 chapters to the "what do you call a man with no arms and no legs" joke book on this trip. Some great, most awful. Tony. The silent assasin. This dude did not complain one time, not once. Despite going on the bow in fiersome conditions all the time, at night, in a gale, taking up sails and taking them down again, he remained steadfast. Usually first on shift. That kind of guy. Erik- Dude planned, bought, and cooked all the food for the trip. All of it. And he destroyed it, absolutely amazing job. Erik learned to drive boats, under kites and at night and he excelled at that too. ALways learning, and always knocking it out of the park. Cool to see. Thanks. Carrick- The animal. Carrick was always the first to leap into a situation, he always had a solution (some dodgy, some not) and he took over weather duties when his back didn't enable him to do physical stuff. He taught me how to do a maniacal take down of a kite with the clew sheets blown at night in a gale. Thanks for punching me in the face 38 times in the process bud, but s grateful you came. An asset to any team. Gord- Milton. If anyone had challenges this trip it was him, for a variety of reasons. The reaction and dealings with them are a testamount to his integrity and his character as a leader. Get anything done, do it safely, and do it fast. Gord was always the driver for us to go faster and we appreciate how frustrating it must be that we sometimes could not. Tim. That singing, dancing happy lunatic. I could not have done this trip without him. He is always in a good mood, always cheerful and despite never being on the same watch, ever, we managed to have a few laughts along the way. From a neighbour to a friend, its been a good journey bud. Thanks for bearing so much of the load, thanks for making this a reality. Andrew- Clearly none of this was possible without him and Linda signing on. What do you say to a guy that lends 7 strangers his dream family yacht to pound across an open ocean race to Hawaii. The debt can never be repaid and we all thank you. We hope you had a trip of a lifetime. Thanks for the la te night music appreciation classes and the fancy drinks. What you did to prep this boat was amazing. Thank you Lastly, MIles- She has taken us to currently as I write this, 198.96 miles to the finish. You did a great job. You housed 9 guys for 16 days and through some of he gnarliest stuff I have seen. You may have a few more bumps and bruises but we hope you enjoyed all those miles under your keel.

Maui, here we come.