It has been a frustrating several days trying to solve the issue with my primary computer, along with getting my backup computer up to speed. It has not been a constant “at the computer” thing … for the primary computer, I had off and on thoughts of things to try, but yesterday (Saturday 1/2) realized it needed to go to the shop.

Meanwhile, getting the backup up to speed … Fortunately, I had had “the shop” do a clean reset and update to current Windows, not long ago. And I had started the process of getting the backup laptop to actually being a backup, as in all of the tools that I need to work on the backup. But, it is not all that fun and so I had not made huge progress. The primary hurdle is downloading the software, which just takes time on my sometimes marginal internet.

BUT, I made a list of the order of things and was working away at it. Again, not constant, it is a “start a download”, keep an eye on it and then configure at the finish. Still, I had planned other things … fun, hobby kind of things for these last days of the holiday break as well as some house cleaning.

Meanwhile, as noted in the previous post, I have been continually keeping an eye on the Vendee Globe sailing race and kind of holding my breath as the fleet approaches and rounds Cape Horn. Two have rounded and are in the quiet of the lee of South America in the southern Atlantic.

The race is in it’s 9th week. Both boats and skippers have taken a pretty good beating at this point.

I found out about the race and started watching via an Instagram post by Nikki Henderson sending encouragement to Pip Hare.

Nikki Henderson is a British professional yachtswoman who at 25 (2-3 years ago) was the youngest skipper in the Clipper Round the World Yacht race. In addition to sailing, she is a motivational speaker and writer: storyteller extraordinaire. So, when she mentioned the Vendee and Pip Hare in her Instagram story, I looked!! And I will be forever grateful for her introduction to both!

Pip Hare is also a professional British yachtswoman, writer and sailing coach. She has dreamt of sailing in the Vendee Globe for 30 years, since she was 16. She took the start of the Vendee Globe 2020 with an almost last minute acquisition of a sponsor: Medallia.

From her website: “When asked why she wants to race in the Vendee Globe Pip says, ‘Because it is one of the toughest sporting events on the planet, and men and women of all ages and backgrounds compete on equal terms. Because racing one of these immense boats alone at sea forces me to be the best person I possibly could on every level. Because I love the ocean, I love the challenge, I want always to improve.’”

Also from her website on the Q&A page:

“Is there a job on the boat that you have to do, that people would be surprised at?

I’m not sure there is one job that is particularly suprising; but the variety of things I have to be good at might. I need to be an engineer, electrician, IT expert, boat builder, rigger, navigator, camera woman and producer, nurse, nutritionist, my own phsycologist, problem solver, risk assessor….. oh and a sailor!”

The above is no exaggeration. As I have followed the race, I have watched skippers: climb the mast (at sea), fabricate structural members, repair hydraulics, repair hydrogenerators, sew sails, repair lines, repair/troubleshoot autopilot issues, etc., etc., etc. And they all have to be up to snuff on the I.T. part of getting their weather info, communicating, posting blogs and videos and taking part in Visio/Zoom/satellite phone and video sessions to promote their sponsors, themselves and the Vendee Globe. All of this while sailing around the world in a 60 foot racing machine with few comforts.

It makes my little computer glitch inconsequential to say the least!

Pip Hare is sailing the oldest boat in the fleet with a lot of things that make single-handed operation extremely challenging. She has worked her way from 23rd place to 15th. And then … she lost some critical functionality in her autopilot. She has been working the last several days on troubleshooting and trying to fix her backup. And all the while, the weather is becoming more challenging and will remain that way for a week until she rounds the ‘Horn.

Right then.

There is SO.MUCH.WISDOM in the words that Pip speaks in the above video. It is her journey and challenges, but also much that I heard is relevant to my life and my choices … and I think to most people’s.

Perspective changed.

No whining about my little computer glitch.

Go Pip GO!!! Sail fast, sail safe. Love and Prayers from Northwest Montana, USA.