Hi all, Debra again.  Sorry I wasn’t able to provide more timely updates for Donald’s finish.  In the process of all the logistics of getting to Guadeloupe, I forgot about it being a French island and my U.S. cell wouldn’t work.  I also forgot to bring a French power adapter, so once I got to a place with Wifi, my computer battery died, so I was a bit out of luck for awhile.  Donald has his U.K. cell phone (which works here) and we have a French adapter, so we’re back in the 21st century.

Donald got a good night’s sleep and is more able to function this morning.  As I’m writing this, I have to laugh…he’s not totally functioning yet.   He was stumbling around this morning trying to get his U.S. phone to charge, inserting this cable and that and finally using the post of my earring in the hopes of cleaning out the port  (which has been highly corroded with everything it’s been through in the past three weeks.)  After twenty minutes or so, he looked at me in utter helplessness, gave up and flopped on the bed saying “I simply can’t make any decisions.  I’m like one of those feeble, old men who suddenly finds himself completely and utterly helpless.”  That, after he’s managed to navigate his way, solo, across the Atlantic in the most challenging of circumstances!

He’s going to relax today and send out his own message on the blog, so check in again.  I’m sure it will be good!  In the meantime, here’s an article that was published on the official Route Du Rhum website that I think you’ll enjoy.  They failed to mention, maybe not realizing it, that Donald is the first South African to complete this grueling race in the Route Du Rhum’s 40 year history.  I’m very proud of this man!

More to follow today, but in the meantime, enjoy this article:

Donald Alexander, 23rd Class40

Told by his medical advisers to give up climbing mountains because of the strain on his heart and severe altitude sickness, South African adventurer turned solo sailor Donald Alexander completed the 3,542 nautical miles Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe transatlantic race this afternoon when he crossed the finish at 13:34.06hrs (09.34.06hrs Guadeloupe) on The Power of 1 to take 23rd place in Class40.

Sipping the traditional rum punch which is given to each skipper as part of the warm welcome to Pointe à Pitre where the race finishes, Alexander said, “I came for the adventure and the competition was almost secondary. I got a lot more adventure than I expected, and in the competition, I did better than expected.”

The US-based 60-year old real estate investor was formerly a top dinghy racer who turned to windsurfing and kitesurfing for many years. But it was in the mountains that Alexander enjoyed his biggest challenges before he was recommended to find a pursuit which did not stress his heart so much or cause altitude sickness. 

Four years ago he put a toe in the water when he made his first Atlantic crossing delivering his stock Pogo S2 series Class40 to the USA. The following years were spent preparing and planning for the four yearly transatlantic race which he finished today in 26 days 34 minutes after the start in Saint Malo on Sunday November 4th.

Gales in the Bay of Biscay and big, slamming seas during the first days of the race caused damage to his Class40 yacht which required him to divert to La Coruna in the north west of Spain when he was in the top half of the 53 boat fleet. There, in collaboration with the boat’s builders, he spent two days repairing before re-joining the race.

“I was lying 19th coming across the Bay of Biscay when I had damage to the hull, and so I had to come in to repair that. That was two days to La Coruna, two days to repair and then another day to get back to where I was. So that took five days out of my race,” he said. “Coming 23rd after that I am happy. It was an unbelievable adventure. Everything that could have gone wrong went wrong.”

“Some of the bad storms were crossing the Bay of Biscay,” he added, “but further on, when I got to the Azores I had worse storms there. I have a lot of experience with storms on this trip. It is a great experience but I am glad it is over. I am ready for a bath and a shower and good food, and to see my wife.”

Alexander was welcomed in by a fleet of well wishers and race officials. “From my side thank you so much for the welcome. It means so much to me to have boats come out and meet me. This is such a beautiful spot. My wife and I will spend a week here just chilling out, with no sailing!”

Link to original article: South African Donald Alexander 23rd in Class40