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On Kota Batu
LEAVING SUNNY B - My flight out of Brunei in a few weeks' time will mark the end of
over seven great years for me in this tropical sultanate, but it's time at last for the BT Global Challenge, 2000-2001.
Since the London Boat Show in January, when I met my fellow crewmembers
on the 'Isle of Man Global Challenge', I have been grateful to have had e-mail contact as often as I have. Yet, at the same time, I have been so very envious of all the team building, discussion and other activity that is going on behind the scenes. Whilst e-mail has certainly revolutionised communication for those of us far away, there is still no substitute for being there.
So I'm looking forward enormously to joining my team, getting to know them better and learning more about racing a winning yacht. It's quite a dilemma as I'm looking forward to seeing more of
family and friends back home too, but I'm not looking forward to leaving Brunei and the life that I have here!
The next few weeks will consist of work, fitness training and dinghy racing as
usual, more visits to schools, and a rush to complete other necessary things like selling up my trusty Suzuki Vitara, the air-cons, the washing machine and everything else I'm not sending back to UK. Finally, I'll have
to hand back the keys to my concrete stilt house.
TALKING, CAN DO - In the meantime, I've been visiting schools and other groups and giving presentations about the race. "Aren't you
scared?" I have been asked. "What happens if you fall overboard?" "Do you get seasick?" I have tried to answer these questions as best I can and it has been a lot of fun. I have even been asked
for my autograph! |