The short list includes cell phones (they can use them! it's not like a regular race! they won't chat, but they could!), VHF radio, flashlights and headlamps, GPS, two personal locators with strobes (clipped to their persons at all times), a SPOT personal locator (operating all the time; it's how we track their position), a tablet for additional navigation, a biggish lithium battery and a pair of portable (deck-of-cards size) power packs, plus AA and AAA batteries, plus multiple nav-light backups. And compass, watch, and paper charts just in case.
This is essentially the same gear they have carried for years; I don't know how the windsurfing guys manage to pack even a severely slimmed-down version of these essentials. But given that this year's adventure races along for another 900 or so miles, the Spawnsters will be carrying back-up back-ups, and considerably more food. From my end of the lab, provisioning seems just about as important as any of the many aspects that can make or break an adventure race. Neither TwoBeers nor Moresailesed is what dog-trainers might call "food motivated." I have witnessed Moresailesed consume more than one full meal at a setting, but both sailors can actively forget to eat for long stretches of time. So I've made it part of my brief to supply the living bejeebers out of 'em. The gold-standard for past contestants is the MRE: Meals Ready to Eat, as designed by the US military. I got a stack of them, complete with the nifty little tab that heats water so they are indeed READY to eat. Then there's the high-protein Mac and cheese cups, a wide variety of snack bars, flavored rice, instant noodles, summer sausage, peanut butter, homemade chocolate bars. home-brewed trail-mix, and instant oatmeal. Stowing it on the boat is not part of my job, but I sure hope they can put this stuff away.
Knocking wood.
4 Comments
Jim Frijouf
3/1/2022 03:24:26 pm
Thanks for the update Amy! Reading this is as close to going that I can achieve, so I appreciate your taking me along!
Reply
Amy
3/2/2022 11:18:15 am
A pleasure, Jim!
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Robert Bozeman
3/1/2022 05:24:46 pm
Margaritas? I see an Oster blender, is there a small microwave too?
Reply
Amy
3/2/2022 11:18:01 am
Alas, my crafting blender made it into frame...800 sq ft of house jam-packed with books, sailing gear, and the odd crafting item.
Reply
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