Finding Point Nemo
On a misty day in November, 40 skippers, each on a sixty-foot sailboat, left France. They have not returned.
The Vendée Globe is a solo, unassisted, non-stop race around the world. It takes place every four years, lasts more than 3 months, and is happening right now. I am shocked that the culture-setting, lifemaxxing, Occupy Mars-a-Lago Elon Musketeers aren’t tweeting, opining, and podcasting about every moment of this race. They should be. Here’s why:
Perspective. The world is huge and we are a tough, adaptable, innovative, and ambitious species. These sailors are proving it. Our projects, plans, and parties this holiday season, they all were scheduled, anticipated, occurred, and became distant memories while these sailors were racing their boats. Remember “Glicked” in theaters, the banana duct-taped to the wall, Turkey day, Bitcoin hitting $100K, Chuck Woolery dying, Hunter getting pardoned, a manhunt for a bike-riding assassin, and the drones harassing the Jersey shore? During all that these skippers were hurtling across the ocean. They never stop. While you are doing the dishes, or watching YouTube, or dancing to your favorite Christmas song, these guys are doing that too—while sailing. It’s incredible. It’s anachronistically brave. It’s inspiring.
Women in Sports. In this race, where the athletes drink wine and eat chocolate (most of the skippers are French) and they make sacrifices to Poseidon (it’s a sailor’s superstition), women and men compete in the same class. There are 6 women in this year’s Vendée. And Violette Dorange, who is just 23 years old, is the youngest skipper ever to attempt the Vendée Globe, man or woman.
Occupy Mars. The goal to establish a self-sustaining human colony on Mars is a technical challenge, but it is also a psychological one. Much like in cyber security, the weak link may well be human not machine. How do we prepare our space colonists for unrelenting danger, isolation, and a harsh environment? These sailors have some answers. Their video dispatches show exactly how they handle the highs and lows of the remote traveler. In fact, in a few days, much of the Vendée fleet will reach Point Nemo. This is the geographic coordinate on the globe furthest from land. Point Nemo, as is oft remarked, is closer to the astronauts in the space station than any terrestrial human outpost.
I’d love for more Americans to follow the Vendée Globe. As we pull ourselves from our début du siècle coccoon to embrace this impending quarter century, I think we could all benefit from the rousing and affecting tales of these 40 skippers. Vive l'humanité!
If you are interested in following the race, I recommend the daily Sea Wolves video. It is informative for sailors and newbies alike.
https://www.youtube.com/@SeawolvesTV
Your able-bodied author,
Jen
P.S. Why didn’t Captain Nemo get any Christmas presents?
Because he was on the Nautilus.
UPDATE: Short Story News
My story Melpomene Now is a WINNER of the Horizon 2040 Influence & Anarchy flash fiction competition about how emergent technology is used to influence individuals and the collective!
The year is 2040. A family engages with their AI-enabled Muse earpieces that whisper advice in their ears as they await M Corp's announcement of Muse's latest feature. Society will never be the same.
It will be published in the Small Wars Journal early next year. Stay tuned.
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