It’s not over till it’s over

Rob / 19.10.2002

Mr Burnett has been playing mind games with the teams all along, but so far The North Face Kona have proved tough enough to survive the physical and mental demands of this brutal course. The question now is, “Will they be able to take the final steps and complete it?�

All along the teams have been kept guessing, never being told the next stage, how long the route was, or even how many checkpoints there are. They’ve been given sketch maps, had to keep their wits and remember to collect numbers from ‘Tiki’ statues, and have relied on getting local supplies as the race has been going for so long.

None were prepared for a course of this length - Pete James for one was booked to fly home this weekend! As they have never really had any idea how much further they have to go they won’t have been able to prepare for what lay ahead. Basic logistics like planning food and clothing for gear boxes was impossible and they will never have had the luxury of focusing their thoughts on the finish. Even now, out on the ocean, they may not be fully aware of the last hurdles they have to overcome.

They are on their way to WayaSewa –2 islands joined by a narrow spit - but as the leaders have already found the coasteering here is arduous. For some top teams like Montrail/Parallax and Buff AXN it was the final straw and they have pulled out of the race. TNF Kona will have had some chance to rest and eat after their epic crossing of the interior of Vitu Levi, and will have been looking forward to the paddling, which is one of their great strengths, but won’t relish being back on their feet on WayaSewa.

Tired as they are, keeping their feet in the surf around the coast will be hard. The tide will batter them, pushing them into the abrasive rocks - then pulling their feet from under them – it’s one of the most tiring disciplines. And if that wasn’t enough they’ll have to climb 1000 feet into the interior to collect another Tiki as well, and they may be told that until they arrive …

Nor will the paddling be easy. Beyond the first island CP on Vomo island, passed on the way out to Wayasewa, the sea is much rougher, described as “a vast expanse of rolling swells and deep troughs�. The crossing between Waya and Sewa could be rough too especially if they cross at high tide when the sand bar is submerged. (Team Earthlink got lucky here as the islanders produced a boat for them).

And all the while the clock is ticking. The course closes on Monday and it’s still touch and go whether they can make it. The leaders took a full day on WayaSewa and it will be harder if TNF Kona arrive in the hours of darkness, sea conditions may change, and they’ll have tricky navigational challenges on the open ocean at night too. At the moment they are in 11th place – very close to the top 10 that was their goal – but it may be that only the top 10 will complete the full course of this expedition adventure ….

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