Thar she goes! (well, they go)

at sea for three months
against unbridled weather
winter summer both

The Vendée Globe Challenge takes place every fourth year. The rules are simple: you're alone on a boat, you can't be assisted, and you don't stop till you've sailed around the world (and to win, of course, you have to do it faster than your opponents).

To me, despite the technology, it is one of  the only real adventures remaining. I'm always impressed by their endurance and strength of mind. Also, their engineering skills and even, sometimes, their medical abilities (operating on oneself in a rocking boat can't be too comfortable, not much more than diving in ten-degree water to cut the piece of net your keel has been dragging for the last six hours, reducing your speed dramatically).

I wish them all the best of luck. I have my favourites, but surprises have been known to happen (let's hope this doesn't happen to tomorrow's - I'm posting this on Monday - election in the USA, though!).