1 SAIC LA JOLLA STORY from Interpersona ... - Interpersona Oy

Among the toughest experiences by far was the separation
from my family. At sea time passed by better, racing
and sailing constantly gave me something to think
about and there wasn’t that much time over for missing
them. Life was more difficult on land, especially when
families and friends of the crews arrived at the harbors
in vast crowds. Our medic fell sick during the second
leg and taking care of her in rough seas in the middle of
the Southern Ocean was quite an exercise as well. Giving
injections to oranges and rubber arms in classroom
is quite easy after all, compared to taking care of a living
human being. It required quite a few attempts and
useless holes in the arm of poor Karen before we could
start the intravenous antibiotic treatment, when doctor
(Menge-) Lehtinen got into full action. As result we
had a patient who resembled a Dalmatian but luckily
the patient recovered as well, and so only a couple of
days after we arrived at Wellington Karen in her familiar
way appeared as first conductor in the yacht club bar...
When I became ill myself (the surgery I underwent
before the race didn’t keep the old trouble away) in the
fourth leg was a really tough ordeal, the circumstances
couldn’t have been worse and being a convalescent
for almost three weeks in the storms of the Southern
Ocean was not the most flattering experience. On the
other hand even this struggle had its positive side – the
crew had to manage on deck on their own and a more
efficient team exercise is hard to find!
Highlights
Eero Lehtinen was a
respected skipper, says the
crew feedback
For my own part arriving in Cape Town in April was
the absolute highlight. As we approached the goal line
of the fourth leg my children’s shouts in the darkening
night in Cape Town with the festive atmosphere of illuminated
Table Mountain was an unforgettable experience.
When I finally had all three of them in my arms
and Tonya next to me, I was certainly the luckiest man
in the world. Other highlights were surely arriving in
Sydney and the second place after a tough fight. Leaving
Cape Town was besides sad also very impressive,
we were leading the fleet in the increasing wind pass
Robben Island and a great spinnaker sailing of three
weeks had begun. We held top placements the whole
time and the feeling in the yacht was great. The stop in
Wellington was also unforgettable. The always friendly
Kiwis did everything exactly right, they took wonderfully
good care of us and I got lifetime friends from my
host couple (volunteers from the local yacht club, who
lodged me in their house). Kenneth Peränen and his
son Jope with girlfriend Susa flew there from Finland
and we spent two splendid weeks traveling around the
South Island. New Zealand is a magnificent country,
even if a bit far a way...
What we learned
During the Global Challenge the participants sailed
around the world in the wrong direction. Westwards.
This project has taught me more than any work experience
before in my life. It has taught me human relations,
leadership, project planning, sailing technique,
navigation, meteorology, different cultures and above
all I have learned very many new things about myself.
After this experience I believe and hope that I will find
it easier to put things in order of importance in my
own life, that I can appreciate the things that are truly
unique and important. I know myself better; I know
my limits and can share the responsibility before I get
crushed under the pressure. Knowledge of human relations
skills will surely be of use various times in different
occasions.
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email: interpersona@interpersona.fi • http://www.interpersona.fi
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