Gale Browning Ocean Racing - Team US Challenge

November 7, 2004
An Insider’s View at the Start of the Vendee Globe

As I look around me on the pontoon in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, I am surround by many of the solo sailors I have been reading about and following in the media for years. Isabelle Autissier is trading sea stories with Ellen MacArthur. Isabelle was racing around the world in the BOC while I was home tending to my infant twins and my two year old toddler and secretly dreaming of taking on a challenge as great and as exciting as the BOC.

Isabelle Autissier and Ellen MacArthur

One of the spectators on the dock comes up to me and says, "Can you give me Ellen’s address? I want to send her a little gift. I want to send her some chocolates."

"I don’t know Ellen’s address."

"Aren’t you her mother?"

I’m a little surprised by his comment but I guess I could be Ellen’s mother, I believe she is only 27 years old. Ellen’s career in solo ocean racing started with the Mini Transat in 1997 and took a big leap when she landed a title sponsor for the Route du Rhum in 1999 and sailed to victory on an Open 50. Ellen’s sponsor, Kingfisher, was "over the moon" with her accomplishment and the amount of media attention drawn to her campaign. Kingfisher sponsored Ellen for 2000-01 Vendee Globe, commissioning a new Open 60 designed specifically for Ellen’s petite 5'2" frame. Ellen won the New Man STAR in June 2000 and finished in 2nd place in the Vendee Globe. The media went wild and her sponsor, Kingfisher, signed up for another 3 years.

I walk down the pontoon to look at the Open 60, PRB, that won the Vendee Globe in the last edition. There is a wiry-built man with short dark hair highlighted with silver streaks and piercing friendly eyes. He is waving at me like he knows me. I look behind me thinking he must be looking at someone else. He shakes his head and points at me. Finally, he steps off the boat and comes over to me and says, "You are the American that sailed in the 2001 Mini? And you bought my boat. I’m Albert."

"I didn’t recognize you. Albert Bargues, of course, now I see who you are. Have you been well?"

"Yes, but I have been away from my family for 7 months now working on this project. And our boat? Where is it?"

Albert Bargues and Gale

"It is in Lake Michigan near Chicago. She is being well cared for but not sailed."

"This is a shame. It is a good boat."

Karen Leibovici, sailing the Open 60, Benefic, has braided her long blonde hair and looks very relaxed and she is all smiles. Karen blows kisses to the crowd as her shore crew casts off her lines and the inflatable RIB attached to the side of her boat heads for the open sea.

Benoit Parnaudeau on the Open 60, Max Havelaar/Best Western, cranks up the tunes as his boat leaves the dock. Karen and Benoit are the only competitors here from the 60 sailors from our 2001 Mini-Transat class.

Bruce Schwab on the Open 60, Ocean Planet, is the only American entry and he has worked extremely hard to be here on a limited budget sponsored only by individuals and equipment suppliers. Bruce’s boat looks quite different from all the rest with a narrow hull, low freeboard, an upturned bow sprit that looks like an elephant’s trunk, appendages on the bow that resemble ears and a free standing bendy carbon fiber mast.

Announcing the Skippers of the Vendee Globe

Nick Moloney is saying "Goodbye" to the crowd and Brian Thompson pushes his way up to the light blue boat to give Nick a hug. Brian squinches his face in agony and tears fill his eyes. As Nick is waving from Skandia, Brian says, "I think it is harder to be on the dock than it is to be on the boat."

Watching my friends sail away without me is very hard to do but I feel closer to my goals and I have gained new inspiration and determination.

If they can do it, I can do it too!

--Gale

To follow the race, go to www.vendeeglobe.org

Want to know what it's really like on an Open 50 out at sea? Gale finished an Atlantic crossing on Ashfield Healthcare (see below) as part of the crew that delivered the boat from Guadeloupe to England. Read her log and see the photos.


*NEWS FLASH* Tom Van Riper, a journalist from Forbes.com, interviewed Gale for the World's Most Dangerous Races posted on line 06.22.06 12:30 ET in the Sports Feature. Click here to see 13 of the world's most dangerous races. Gale Withdraws from Double-Handed Newport-Bermuda Race The rose colored glasses came off and the reality of the project sank in on my second weekend visit to Newport to try to save the project after we were notified by the official measurer that the J-35, The Red Dress, did not pass the stability test to enter the race. The co-captain and principal of Red Dress Racing was on a month long delivery of a catamaran from Cape Town to Antigua and was not expected back until about a week before the start of the race. Besides the need to add several hundred pounds of lead to the bottom of the keel to pass the stability test, the boat needed several other items to pass the safety requirements of the race. Rod Johnston, the designer of the J-35 was very willing to help resolve the stability issue, unfortunately, there wasn't enough time or money to do all the necessary repairs and still have time to train properly for the race. Breaking News: Gale To Sail in Centennial Newport Bermuda Race Aboard The Red Dress with Moe Roddy Read more... Gale went WAY down south... I've recently returned from Tierra del Fuego. Read more... Gale glacier watching on Pelagic Australis in Tierra del Fuego Although in November 2005 we officially withdrew from campaigning for the 2006-2007 Velux 5 Oceans (formally the Around Alone) solo race around the world, we are moving ahead with plans to train and participate in other solo and crewed ocean races. First up on the calendar is an expedition sailing trip around Cape Horn as a reconnaissance for future sailing in the Southern Ocean. In March, I will be sailing in the Beagle Channel, out around Cape Horn and in the Straits of Magellan aboard the Pelagic Australis. For more information about the expedition and some great photos of the region, go to www.pelagic.co.uk/masterframe_about.htm Wishing you a Happy New Year and may all your dreams come true. --Gale November 7, 2004 An Insider’s View at the Start of the Vendee Globe As I look around me on the pontoon in Les Sables d’Olonne, France, I am surround by many of the solo sailors I have been reading about and following in the media for years. Isabelle Autissier is trading sea stories with Ellen MacArthur. Isabelle was racing around the world in the BOC while I was home tending to my infant twins and my two year old toddler and secretly dreaming of taking on a challenge as great and as exciting as the BOC. Isabelle Autissier and Ellen MacArthur One of the spectators on the dock comes up to me and says, "Can you give me Ellen’s address? I want to send her a little gift. I want to send her some chocolates." "I don’t know Ellen’s address." "Aren’t you her mother?" I’m a little surprised by his comment but I guess I could be Ellen’s mother, I believe she is only 27 years old. Ellen’s career in solo ocean racing started with the Mini Transat in 1997 and took a big leap when she landed a title sponsor for the Route du Rhum in 1999 and sailed to victory on an Open 50. Ellen’s sponsor, Kingfisher, was "over the moon" with her accomplishment and the amount of media attention drawn to her campaign. Kingfisher sponsored Ellen for 2000-01 Vendee Globe, commissioning a new Open 60 designed specifically for Ellen’s petite 5'2" frame. Ellen won the New Man STAR in June 2000 and finished in 2nd place in the Vendee Globe. The media went wild and her sponsor, Kingfisher, signed up for another 3 years. I walk down the pontoon to look at the Open 60, PRB, that won the Vendee Globe in the last edition. There is a wiry-built man with short dark hair highlighted with silver streaks and piercing friendly eyes. He is waving at me like he knows me. I look behind me thinking he must be looking at someone else. He shakes his head and points at me. Finally, he steps off the boat and comes over to me and says, "You are the American that sailed in the 2001 Mini? And you bought my boat. I’m Albert." "I didn’t recognize you. Albert Bargues, of course, now I see who you are. Have you been well?" "Yes, but I have been away from my family for 7 months now working on this project. And our boat? Where is it?" Albert Bargues and Gale "It is in Lake Michigan near Chicago. She is being well cared for but not sailed." "This is a shame. It is a good boat." Karen Leibovici, sailing the Open 60, Benefic, has braided her long blonde hair and looks very relaxed and she is all smiles. Karen blows kisses to the crowd as her shore crew casts off her lines and the inflatable RIB attached to the side of her boat heads for the open sea. Benoit Parnaudeau on the Open 60, Max Havelaar/Best Western, cranks up the tunes as his boat leaves the dock. Karen and Benoit are the only competitors here from the 60 sailors from our 2001 Mini-Transat class. Bruce Schwab on the Open 60, Ocean Planet, is the only American entry and he has worked extremely hard to be here on a limited budget sponsored only by individuals and equipment suppliers. Bruce’s boat looks quite different from all the rest with a narrow hull, low freeboard, an upturned bow sprit that looks like an elephant’s trunk, appendages on the bow that resemble ears and a free standing bendy carbon fiber mast. Announcing the Skippers of the Vendee Globe Nick Moloney is saying "Goodbye" to the crowd and Brian Thompson pushes his way up to the light blue boat to give Nick a hug. Brian squinches his face in agony and tears fill his eyes. As Nick is waving from Skandia, Brian says, "I think it is harder to be on the dock than it is to be on the boat." Watching my friends sail away without me is very hard to do but I feel closer to my goals and I have gained new inspiration and determination. If they can do it, I can do it too! --Gale To follow the race, go to www.vendeeglobe.org Want to know what it's really like on an Open 50 out at sea? Gale finished an Atlantic crossing on Ashfield Healthcare (see below) as part of the crew that delivered the boat from Guadeloupe to England. Read her log and see the photos.

Gale Browning Ocean Racing LLC PO Box 4061 Annapolis, MD 21403