A big question mark five days to the start of the Global Ocean Race

Palma, 20 September, just five days to the start of the Global Ocean Race and we are left with just a big question mark on the side of our boat. All hope for a last minute title sponsorship deal has now evaporated, despite months of trying and pushing nothing significant has materialised. We are however very grateful to all the race partners and secondary sponsors that are behind us encouraging us to push forward and softening the blow of what is now a 75% self funded campaign. We still have to decide what to call the boat for the race.

Yet, we all know it will all be worth it in the end, rounding Cape Horn will certainly be a better memory every day for the rest of my life than making regular mortgage payments, so the excitement is high, the anticipation is enormous, Paul and I have been at this too long and need to go out there and sail this beast into the oceans. Hopefully once at sea i will forget the stress of knowing that our campaign is at great rish of grinding to a halt if we dont find further funds. We will take things a leg at a time, get to Cape Town and call it from there, hopefully if we make it to New Zealand it will be just as far to finish than turn back.

I can't deny my heart skips a beat here and there, it is a daunting gamble to carry on from here knowing we dont have enough funds to finish, but i can't even bear the thought of giving up on this so late in the game. I have the support of my partner Ella, and of my family, which will make all the difference in the difficult times. The situation reminds me of that poem, "if you can make a heap of all your winnings and risk it on one turn of pitch and toss" you must be a fool with an addiction to gambling!

A big hearted thank you to all those who contributed to our race funds through www.marconannini.com/help, it could make all the difference in the end.

Five days to go, chin up, deep breath, big smile, first goal Cape Town!