Today is June 21, 2019, and Puffin crossed the GGR finish line just 3 months ago, but the events of the 263-day nonstop ocean marathon are fading in my memory with an unexpected pace.

The daily filtering and boiling of water is history now…

…And it’s nice not to have to worry about constantly cleaning a water filter anymore.

No need for rain water collection anymore, either…

The adjustment to a dry and motionless bed, daily showers, fresh fruit/vegetables, and meals cooked by my lovely wife was fast and easy. The return to regular communication and socializing with people has been less fluent, mainly due to the different environment and priorities.

But the biggest problem—as it always was after my previous challenges were accomplished—is getting out of the followup vacuum of the latest achievement. I noticed this post-race emptiness even among my race fans and followers. Their daily routine tracking the GGR was lost and highly missed. But pushing the reset button is even more difficult for the competitors.

I do not miss the grab lines and the confined area.

Getting busy setting new goals is more challenging for the older ones, but luckily there are role models in this field, too. One of them is Arnold Schwarzenegger, who gave this excellent life guidance in one of his presentations:

1. Find your vision.

2. Never think small, think big.

3. Ignore the naysayers.

4. Work your ass off.

5. Don’t just take. Give something back!

My current bed is not only bigger, but dry and motionless too!

Well, my line after finishing the GGR, “I am done with sailing and will be gardening,” was obviously a joke, but my main focus was already on Arnold’s No. 5 point. Sharing my GGR experience in a series of articles on my blog, during prospective presentations, and perhaps in a book is one way of giving back, and this update on my website is part of it.

My decision to sell Puffin to a prospective entrant in the next GGR was also aimed at this goal. Puffin was a very unique boat both in the GGR 2018 fleet and in my life. She had been abandoned and sitting on the hard for a decade due to the death of her only prior owner. And during her 3-yearlong race prep I practically rebuilt her (see “Puffin Restoration” blog on www.koparsailing.com). She became a family member, and we even sold our home to accommodate her refit. The emotional connection became even stronger during the race, and letting her go was not easy.

Some Trophies of the GGR Finisher: Honorary Life Member of International Association of Cape Horners and a personalized bulkhead plate…

I was hoping that Puffin could compete as a US-flagged vessel with a US skipper in the next race, and I could be supportive as a coach or team manager. But Puffin and I got even luckier with Ian Herbert Jones, the new English owner. Ian is not only a GGR 2022 entrant, but also a Tradewind lover, and he is planning to keep Puffin after the race, too. Puffin‘s new ownership looks very promising, since Ian is far younger than me, and there are several well respected sister ships in the UK.

Before: Nail fungus resulting from molded cabin after the knock down…

 

…and After: nails got treated thanks to Balance of Nature, and a smaller chronometer to keep thanks to WEMPE

I still needed an effective painkiller to treat Puffin‘s absence, and buying back my first circumnavigator boat Salammbo proved to be a good one. I am involved in this process right now, and the details will be disclosed after it’s done.

Let me say “Thank You” again to all my race supporters, and share the good news for all fans:

1. Puffin is in good hands and will be racing in the next GGR, keeping her name and race number 37.

2. My nails are 99% recovered from mold-caused fungus, thanks to an increased volume of Balance of Nature.

3. The fans and followers will be able to re-sail the GGR 2018 via my followup writings and visuals.

To be continued…

The most valuable reward: holding my wife after the finish. Photo courtesy of Török Brigi www.brigipix.com