 | From Ocean Navigator #127 January/February 2003 |
What were the days like? “They were long days. Up at 0700, launch at 0900, back in at 1900; boats derigged and made safe by 2000 or 2100,” Fox reported. “The east coast was generally light, so we went slowly for hours; then we picked up speed along the south coast, trapezing for hours at a stretch, beating upwind. Those were the most exhausting days, clawing 45 nautical miles upwind. We did have some relaxing days, when the boats were set up nicely and we just glided along looking at the cliffs and headlands, which was nice.”
Aside from having a grand time testing the limits of their beach cats, Fox and Swinburne were raising money for the construction of a hydrotherapy pool, which is used for the treatment of rheumatism and other muscular and skeletal ailments. Fox was motivated in part by the death of his infant son, Harry, who was born in 1998. The infant suffered an infection during the first few days of life and was left severely brain damaged; he couldn’t see, hear, swallow or move his limbs. His parents found that he responded to being immersed in warm water. After he died at 12 months, they turned their attention to developing a hydrotherapy pool and program for the town of Somerset, England, where Fox lives.
Will he continue his voyage? At press time, Fox was concentrating on entering a fifth Fastnet race and said he hopes to continue his round-Ireland voyage in 2003 – depending on how much vacation time he can noodle.
