John Falla's blog

image: 

A big thank you to all at Melrose for their support, and in particular to Mrs Beebee and the girls of Upper Prep who followed my adventure with such enthusiasm, and kept me busy with their great questions.

As promised, after several technical difficulties, I finally attach the wonderful good luck card prepared by the class that Florence brought with her to the start. I was deeply touched by it and will treasure it always. The wishes for good luck appeared to work as Banjaard and I reached the United States in one piece.

Thanks again, and enjoy Junior Remove.

John

As promised you will find the names of the individuals and organisations who have generously supported my campaign to raise funds for the two cancer related charities below:

Should you be able to support these excellent causes, you may make donations online at:

www.justgiving.com/2009OSTAR for the Institue for Cancer Research, and

www.appeal.gg/appeal.aspx?appealid=45 for the Guernsey Society for Cancer Relief.

image: 

I hope that you have or will enjoy reading not only my blog, but those of my fellow competitors.

I undertook the OSTAR for the adventure of a lifetime, which I certainly enjoyed, but also to raise funds for two very worthwhile causes, the Institute of Cancer Research, and the Guernsey Society for Cancer Relief.

Should you be able to support these excellent causes, you may make donations online at:

www.justgiving.com/2009OSTAR for the Institue for Cancer Research, and

www.appeal.gg/appeal.aspx?appealid=45 for the Guernsey Society for Cancer Relief.

I believe that Marco has returned to the UK, and I did not really thank him properly before he left. As someone who did not know what a Blog was two months ago, I would like to record my thanks to Marco and all of the team behind Blogstar for making the system so easy to use, and for educating me, and I suspect many of the other skippers, (particularly those of us with some grey hair) on this highly effective way of bringing a bit of the ocean to the computer terminals of so many.

image: 

Great to be in Newport with the family and enjoying the wonderful hospitality of the Newport Yacht Club, which is exceptional.

Our thoughts are very much with those who are still trying to get here, and in particular if they are having technical issues.

Very sorry to hear about Citta di Salerno being abandoned, but greatly relieved to hear of the safe rescue of Gianfranco.

Our thought are very much with those who have not been as fortunate as me. There, but for the grace of God, could have been any of us.

John Falla

image: 

You have to have lived in London to understand this, but having spent 30 years trying to get a good, or frankly any decent picture of a dolphin, I ended up with this picture.

Hope you enjoy it.

Now I am ashore I will be putting a lot of pictures up on the blogsite, so please do revisit some of the older parts of the Blog.

John

image: 

John Falla has recorded a voice message for blogSTAR. To listen to it click on the attached audio file.

John Falla has recorded a voice message for blogSTAR. To listen to it click on the attached audio file.

image: 

John Falla has recorded a voice message for blogSTAR. To listen to it click on the attached audio file.

Picture shows dawn on the 18th, shortly after hearing the whale.

image: 

John Falla has recorded a voice message for blogSTAR. To listen to it click on the attached audio file.