Straight off the dock after racing in Palma, I flew directly to Brest to join Alexia and the team of The Famous Project.
Alexia is deep into preparation for the Route du Rhum, an intense solo race from St Malo across to Guadeloupe in the Caribbean. She'll be making the crossing aboard IDEC Sport, the very same maxi trimaran the eight of us raced together on our non-stop lap of the world at the start of the year.
Our time in Brest was spent reconfiguring the boat for solo sailing, and just as importantly, helping Alexia get to grips with managing a machine built for a crew to sail. It was brilliant being back together as a team and sailing that boat is always so much fun. What struck me most was watching Alexia's tenacity, her willingness to push past what she thought her limits were and simply make it happen. That kind of resilience isn't something you can teach; she has it in spades.
As I write this summary, I'm delighted to say she has now completed her qualification for the race. 1,200 nautical miles in total, 120 of them sailed upwind in 21 knots or above. True to form, the Atlantic didn't make it easy on her and delivered gusts of up to 35 knots. Although challenging, it is exactly the kind of test that will stand her in good stead when the fleet cross the start line on 1st November.
From Brest it was a couple of days at home before I was off again, this time with my sister to Spain, to catch up with family over from Australia. The highlight was meeting my great-nephew for the first time. An eight-month-old bundle of joy, thoroughly content with the world and an absolute delight.
And now, away again, I'm writing this from Sardinia, where I'm racing in two regattas. I'll report back on how they went at the end of the month.