From the Finish Line .......................

                                                                                                                                                  .......  Ernie Reuter

I'll be leaving for Les Sables d'Olonne France on Friday 2/18 to organize the welcoming group of Team Ocean Planet supporters and volunteers. Being on the scene for the finish, now expected for early next week, I'll attempt to keep this page updated as to what is going on and when in the village.  The excitement is growing as the first American to successfully complete this amazing sailing event, draws ever so much closer to the finish line. Not sure as of yet exactly what my wireless connections will be but will do my best to keep this page updated.
 

2/28/05......1023gmt.....It is a clear cold morning here in Les Sables. Last nights temps went down to a seasonal record low of 17 deg F. Once again it was nice to have all the warm clothing...Unfortunately, the cold temps do not help in the two main projects that need to be completed on OP prior to the end of this week when the techs go home. She needs to be hauled out of the water and have a couple of spots tended to on the bottom. The other item of urgency is some boom work...which fortunately can be done inside of a donated workspace at the local technical school. But ...time is critical as Will and Dave will head home on Friday so we'll see how the week progresses.  Many of the team members are beginning to head on out...Bruno back to Italy and Andrew on his way home to London today. We have had  quite a gathering of enthusiastic supporters and helpers here. The few of us that are here are a pale comparison to the hundreds of locals that have spent so much time with the OP campaign and the thousands of French fans that have given Bruce and all of us, such warm and friendly support during our stay.

    

2/26/05......1714gmt.. The excitement of yesterdays finish is still holding on here in the Vendee Village. As we look back at the blur of the past 36 hours, we were called at the crew pad in the wee hours of Friday morning...0200 to be exact, that Bruce was possibly 3 hours out. We rallied the troops which was both easy and not so easy. Over to the pontoon for what we thought would be the trip out to the finish area. Denni the race director informed us the the wind once again veered to the right which made the close reach into a beat into LSDO.  So we went into patience mode once again for what turned out to be another 3 hours of napping and waiting in the press room for the word to move.  Finally at 0645, we watch the race directors boat head out of the harbor which was out sign that we would leave within minutes. Out we followed 2 RIBS, a cushy Jenneau mothership which housed the video crew and a birage of Vendee official boats. We headed out and within 5 miles of shore, Kevin was heard from miles...."there he is"....a small slanted stick in the distance grew ever bigger in the morning light.  The skies were blue but it was colddd. Riding in the RIB was a fantastic experience as we approached OP for the first time in 109 days. The rest was history. At 0801 gmt the line was crossed and Bruce made history. We climbed aboard after officials did their inspection and the celebration began. Sails down, no easy task, motor on and into a mooring ball just off the breakwater. We waited there until the afternoon high tide which gave us a chance to chat, watch some race videos and hear some of the details of B's adventure. Precisely at 1500 we let go of the mooring and turned the corner to enter the channel.  Along with an full entourage of boats, RIBS, classic European motor and sail boats, we proceeded up the channel with thousands lining the banks.....the more they cheered, the more we cheered....I think it was contagious ! A couple of photos below with many more to follow.

2/24/05.....1841gmt....Update from Bruce a few minutes ago.  His voice was upbeat and he feels better as the final hours approach. He will arrive at the finish line in the daylight between 0700 and 0900 gmt Friday. The flotilla will be there to greet him. Upon tying up to the mooring ball, we'll go aboard to lower sails, organize and feed Bruce his first real meal in over 100 days ! Some delay will occur at that point until the 1500 gmt at which point we'll start the final journey up the channel and to the pontoon. I hope to be able to send updates however the best source for Official news of finish will be the Vendee Globe site at Vendee Globe 2004 - official web site

              .......  The PR team at work just minutes ago.

                                                ....This spot on the pontoon is for Ocean Planet tomorrow !!!!

2/24/05...1044gmt...Another morning of anticipation unfolds here in LSDO. Having just spoken with Bruce on the phone...his spirits are good however he is anxious about the fickle wind conditions. We are currently figuring on a finish sometime between 0100 and 0400 tomorrow (Friday) morning. Crossing the finish line in the darkness, Ocean Planet will hook up to a mooring ball located just outside the channel.  The next favorable tide that is spectator friendly will be 1500...at which point Bruce will untie and together with a flotilla of support boats, proceed into the channel and on to the pontoon. Ahhhh..sailing remains a sport of patience and perseverance !!!
  A shot of last nights team dinner at the crew pad....

2/23/05....1424gmt...Very hectic this morning with B now ~24 hours out. Boat details are coming together nicely with some free seats on the La Sabina, a Spirit of Ethan Allen type excursion boat, being made available to the team in the last minute. Looks now like we will get security flags for 4 boats in total with 2 being RIBS and 2 larger boats.

Weather here is sunny and cold once again this morning. B has spent the night with hail, snow and light rain. Winds out in the middle of the bay are ENE 10-15….a beat in. Lots of fishing traffic.  Bruces first meal which Anitia, his mom will make up for him will be Chilli Rellenos and a huge salad and lots of chocolate for dessert. One lady for the Nante area has made a chocolate version of OP with white chocolate for the sails. We will get her out on the La Sabina for sure. So if all goes well on his last night at sea, he’ll be in tomorrow afternoon on the high tide under sunny cold skies.

2/22/05......1523gmt...It is cold over here...sure glad that I brought all the good old Vermont clothing!..As I Iast spoke with Race Director Denny, about 1 hour ago, it looks like Ocean Planet is on track for a Thursday afternoon high tide arrival into LSDO( between 1400 and 2000 hours into the harbor.). He is currently about 320 miles out and having entered the Bay of Biscay, now has to negotiate the fishing fleets...He crossed the major shipping lanes in the early morning hours uneventfully...more later.

2/21/05.....1242gmt...Bruce is now 575 miles out and the excitement is really growing here in the village. We were able to watch Conrad and Joey finish yesterday morning. Bruce is next. People here treat this like the Super Bowl...Old young and everything in between.....Maybe 5000 French to cheer a Brit!  A real first !!!! Here's a shot of Conrad on Hellomoto coming up the channel. That's all for the moment from LesSables.

2/15/05....1153gmt.....The team is set for the arrival of Bruce and Ocean Planet.