Happy New Year!

G'day to all,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and and looking forward to a good new year. This has been a very exciting year for us at home base. The Point Yacht Club in Durban has been very hospitable to Zac, with many new friends and some great help. That has always been the case as he has pulled in across the globe; Hawaii Yacht Club in Honolulu, Meico Beach Yacht Club in Majuro, Royal Papua Yacht Club in Port Moresby, Darwin Sailing Club in Australia, Grande Baie Yacht Club in Mauritius and even our own Westlake Yacht Club here in Thousand Oaks. Zac will soon be looking for that all important weather window to see him through to Cape Town. For those who know and are familiar with this part of the world there is an appreciation and respect for the importance of weather on Zac's next leg. It is good that Zac is enjoying a break and preparing Intrepid for her trip home.

Reflecting back on the year, it has certainly given me a few gray hairs, some sorrow and also a great deal of joy. When Zac bought his yacht with his savings nearly a year ago now, I knew that the refit and modifications needed to turn this rather tired looking sailboat into the blue-water cruising yacht that you know as Intrepid, would take a massive effort. Not only by myself, but from friends, family and experts in the field. In short, we needed a miracle. We are greatly indebted to those that came alongside and helped. What was never written about were the hours that Zac, Mike and I worked during the last month of prep. There simply weren't enough hours in the day. And then there was the delay to theinitial departure date of two weeks due to an unresolved engine issue. We decided to replace it with a new one that was partially sponsored by Boatswain's Locker.

Zac bringing Nantucket Sleigh Ride aka Intrepid up from Long Beach Harbor

It was at that time that I received the crushing news that my mentor and old running coach died suddenly of a massive heart attack. Had the situation been different, I would have been back on a plane to the UK to pay my respects and celebrate his life with those that were closest to him. Paul Hart took three ordinary young boys and turned them into the finest athletes of their time . I sat a long time on a hill in the wilderness contemplating the effects Paul had on my life - not wanting to come to terms with his death, but also realizing that any more delays to Zac's project could cost him the trip. I knew we had to push on despite the sad loss of a dear friend.

What a great send off for all those present at the Marina Del Rey Boat Show on that sunny June 14, 2008. Such excitement and jubilant farewells! I was very relieved, excited, proud and sad...a huge effort had been made and now it was up to Zac.

The newly refitted Intrepid departs Marina del Rey

I know that during those early days there were many that were unsure of Zac's abilities. But as the Zac Pak and readers looked on, Zac silenced those critics and impressed others with his ability to handle the adversities that faced him. Remember the communication break down before entering the Torres Strait, the imposing vessel off of Indonesia (we will never know what they were doing), the broken tiller, boom, gales and many other challenges along the way.

Through all this there have been those that have prayed for Zac's safety and for that we are surely indebted.

Though the trip is far from over, there will be more challenges that Zac will have to face as his voyage home unfolds. I would like to thank all of you that support, encourage, pray and read this blog.

May you all have a truly fabulous new year!

Cheers,
Laurence