Why?
This is
the toughest question to answer and there is no one answer. I have three
answers: First, I
have always sought out and lived adventurously.
Life is not without risk, be it in business or pleasure. I do what I can to live a full life and to
minimize the risks. Kiwi Spirit has a
number of life saving ideas and technology aboard and I will share these with
you. Second, my
life has been in the “footsteps of heroes” and I honor them by following them,
and where possible exceeding what they achieved – as they would wish. Third,
because I love the sea - I enjoy gales and even storms for the challenges and
the exhilaration they provide - and for the fine weather that follows.
Dodge Morgan,
whose record I am challenging, did this as a Corinthian effort. He accepted no outside funding, no sponsors
which typifies most sporting events today. He was as amateur as he could be and
I shall repeat that experience.
Who's Watching?
I have
signed a Cooperation Agreement with the City of St. Augustine which
coincidentally will be celebrating its 450th Anniversary as I begin
my voyage, being the nation’s oldest City. We hope to meet certain educational
goals, sharing the world I experience aboard Kiwi Spirit with students. The lessons will aim to put a “real life”
spin on textbook material, with topics such as geography, weather, navigation,
the environment, ocean life, and many others. The educational materials will be
directed at the senior high school student and thus should interest armchair
sailors and those that choose to live vicariously through the efforts of
others.
What will you gain from my blog?
That all
depends on your interests. It will be about sailing, yes. But more importantly,
it will be about the human spirit and what at my ripe old age it can achieve by
appropriate training.
So please
enjoy, sail with me and live vicariously through my exploits. I will be lonely
out there and so you can help by following the adventure and keeping me company
through your blog comments. Feel free to email me at kiwispirit@usa.edu.
Cheers for Now,
Stanley
