Crossing the Atlantic

L to R: NYCC Commodore George Himna, Palawan Captain Joe Hoopes

May 22
Hello everyone - Greetings from Palawan. This is the first of a daily log discribing Palawan's passage to England while participating in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge Race. On board are myself, my regular crew and seven friends including two young men who will be senoirs in collage next year. They bring the average age down to fifty!

The race was postponed for 24 hours due to weather. We started today (5/22) in light air which continues. We are now 21 nm southeast of the Ambrose Tower. which is not much progress. Only 3071 nm to go. The wind is expected to fill in tomorrow afternoon.

We've settled into our watch routine of three man watches with each standing 4 hrs on and 8 hrs off. Not enough wind to set up distance competitions amoung the watches, but we will. You can check our progress by going to www.nyyc.org <http://www.nyyc.org>  and then going to the Rolex TAC pg which has a tracking function on the right side.

Not much else today. Tomorrow I will discribe our mission on behalf of the Winter (yes winter) Olympics.

All the best - The crew of Palawan

Leo Van Simay, Harbormaster, and Captain Joe Hoopes

June 22 - Zeebruggee

We left Cowes at noon on the 21st and arrived here in Zeebruggee at 8:00 am yesterday morning (the 22nd). We met Leo Van Simay, the Harbormaster for the Royal Belgium Sailing Club who had agreed to safekeep the message. He and I had an informal handoff that we recorded as you will see from the attached photo. He also signed the attached receipt. . .* He's a very nice fellow who is looking forward to meeting the team in July. . .

On behalf of the Palawan crew, let me say that we are very proud to have been able to help Rocky and all the citizens of Salt Lake carry out this mission. It has been a lot of fun and we certainly enjoyed meeting you all.

My very best -   Joe

PS - I look forward to following the rest of the journay on slc2torino.com 

* S/V Palawan
Palawan Holdings, Ltd
Swan Building
26 Victoria Street
Hamilton HM 12, Bermuda

On behalf of the Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah, Rocky Anderson, Esq

Leo Van Simay, Harbormaster, Zeebruggee, Belgium

accepts the Olympic message of Peace, Youth and Environment carried across the Atlantic Ocean by the S/V Palawan bound for the Mayor of Turino, Italy this 22nd day of June, 2005 to be held for further transit to Turino by a team from the City of Salt Lake.