67 days after leaving France, the lead boat BANQUE POPULAIRE III, skippered by  Armel LE CLÉAC’H, is still in first place with less than 2000 nautical miles to the finish line. On board HUGO BOSS is Alex Thomson just 200 miles behind. With the right winds Thomson still has time to catch  LE CLÉAC’H.  800 miles behind the the leader is Jerimie Beyou.

18 off the 29 staters are still in the race but there are still 8 boats that have not yet rounded Cape Horn. The poor chap in last place is 9000 miles behind the leader.

The lead boats should finish the race within the next week. 24,ooo nautical miles, circumnavigating Antarctica on a 60 foot sailboat all by yourself. That is a special kind of crazy.

Just saying…

Going out for Breakfast or Brunch is always a treat. Recently, I met some pals for a late  breakfast at LEFTY’S in Qualicum Beach.  First time here for Breakfast and it was very good. Two eggs, bangers, pan fried potatoes and sourdough toast.  All the ingredients were perfectly cooked to my taste.  Two of my tablemates had omelettes which looked pretty inviting too.  ‘LEFTY’ the owner came buy to refill our coffee and we had a delightful chat with her.  She opened the Qualicum Beach location about 18 years ago.  There is also a Parksville branch.  Thinking of Breakfast?  Think LEFTY’S at the light!

Probably our favourite brunch is one that involves Eggs Benedict.  The best Benny around these parts is at the SHADY REST,  on the water in Qualicum Beach. Try the traditional Benny with Black Forest Ham, or the Seafood Benny with Scallops, Prawns and Dungeness Crab.  Or you might choose the Florentine with Spinach or the West Coast with Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese.  If you like Hollandaise Sauce you will love the homemade deliciousness here. All the Benny’s include a side of the best roasted potatoes ever. Oh you can order omelettes,  french toast and some other typical breakfast fare, but for me it’s all about Eggs Benedict.

In the summer you can enjoy brunch on the patio overlooking the water. It’s hard to beat!  The Shady only serves brunch on Saturday and Sunday and they open at 11.

Just saying….

It’s day 57 in the Vendée Globe Round the World Sailing Race and six boats have now rounded Cape Horn. The leader Armel LE CLÉAC’H, on BANQUE POPULAIRE III, has just 4500 miles to the finish. Alex Thomson on HUGO BOSS, is 147 miles behind. Third placed skipper Jeremie Beyou has made significant progress and is now only 790 miles astern of the leader.

Away at the back of the fleet, Sebastian Destremau on TECHNO FAST, is 7500 miles behind and is sailing just south of Tasmania. Yesterday, the Irishman, Enda O’Coineen , retired from the campaign after losing his mast. So now there are 18 skippers still racing as 11 have retired.  The retirements are all due to equipment failure or damage.

The Vendée Globe is proving to be an extreme test for the skippers, the vessels, and the sophisticated electronic navigation and communication equipment.

Just saying…