I asked my wife the other day where the pills were put that are meant to improve my memory. I'm awaiting her response.

Over the years of doing this “photo with words” thing in the paper (Joe Gelarden, responsible party), I have shared many subjects. Whether anything appeals to Register readers is another matter. However, I must say, on several occasions in my office at the Hannaford, people who shall remain nameless, pull me aside in the frozen food section with comments.. My response: “Well, I never quite know what will bubble to the top any given week.”

“That’s what I like” is often shared. “You start out one place and never know where you will end up. It’s sort of an adventure.” And, you know, that's exactly what it is. The darnedest things wander into my line of sight. As one of my T-shirt notes, “Easily distracted”! And so on.

Well, this week is no exception. And this item came from out of nowhere. A friend of an old friend from Oyster Bay, New York, an area not unlike our very own, contacted me out of the blue. I didn't even know she was in Maine. She had read one of my dissertations, by accident, and wanted to share. Turns out she is helping to promote and gain sponsorship for a friend of hers who is preparing for a sailboat race around the world, the “Golden Globe,” a single-handed race. She is the only female competitor to date.

Kirsten Neuschafer is in Thomaston at the Lyman Morse yard for work on the boat she skippers, Pelagic, a 50-foot sailboat that specializes in expeditions to South Georgia, the Antarctic peninsula, Patagonia and the Falklands. Pelagic is getting refit work for upcoming northern summer trips to the Arctic. This is not the boat Kirsten will sail in the Golden Globe race.

The Golden Globe race will begin in September 2022 from France. Between now and then Kirsten will be preparing, herself and her boat, a Cape George 36, launched in 1988. The boat requires a major refit before the race, a costly and time consuming process. Kirsten is in need of sponsorship to help with the extensive preparations.

The race is roughly 30,000 nautical miles and takes between 7 and 9 months. And I get nervous in the bathtub! I simply cannot imagine how anyone could manage this. And to boot, all boats in the race need to conform to a certain retro, older style. For crying out loud, as if the race is not challenging enough! No modern technology for navigating or receiving weather information is allowed.

Kirsten needs help, and yes boys and girls, that means financial support. If you or anyone you know is even remotely interested in helping, please contact Kirsten via https://kirstenggr.com or https://www.facebook.com/KirstenNeuschaferGGR 

The need is great, and believe it or not, time is short!