As the July 1st race day is less than 24 hours away, it has been a steady stream of visitors, last minute adjustments to the boat, running to secure the last supplies, and the difficult task of fitting it all in the boat! This Team Palestine blog entry looks at some of the things Nabil is taking with him, from food, to music and books, and letters from school children. Things will heat up on the dock at around 8am France Time (1am CST), with Nabil scheduled to sail out of the harbor around 10am for the race start at noon. Visit Team Palestine’s Facebook page or Twitter feed for details of live video streams of the start of the race! Click on the first photo below for a slideshow experience, or scroll down the page.
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- Getting the Green Card after passing all the Golden Globe Race criteria and safety checks was a journey that took years! And it couldn’t have happened without your help.
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- 2018 Golden Globe Race skippers congregate in Les Sables d’Olonne. Back row left to right: Uku Randmaa (EST), Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (FRA), Loic Lepage (FRA), Mark Slats (NED), Gregor McGuckin (IRE), Igor Zarertsjiy (RUS), Mark Sinclair (AUS),Tapio Lehtinen (FIN), Ertan Beskardes (GBR), Abhilash Tomy (Ind), Susie Goodall (GBR) Front row: Istvan Kopar (USA), Are Wiig (NOR), Kevin Farebrother (AUS), Antoine Cousot (FRA), Nabil Amra (PAL). (Photo: Christophe Favreau/PPL/GGR)
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- The Marina at Les Sables-d’Olonne, France, where the Golden Globe Race begins at noon on July 1st, 2018. Visit Team Palestine’s Facebook page beginning 9am (French time) on July 1st for Livestream information.
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- Signage of the skippers.
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- Nabil’s story.
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- Radio systems installed? Check.
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- Some of the books Nabil is taking on his journey. Look for a feature on his library on the waves down the line.
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- Some of the cassette tapes that Nabil is taking on his journey. The GGR rules preclude modern technology such as MP3 players. Look for a feature on his playlist down the line.
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- Dried goods, packed into a compartment under a seat. Space is at a premium onboard. Nabil spent months freeze drying food for the journey.
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- Nabil’s friends Michel and Roger on a last minute shopping trip for 2-3 months of canned goods.
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- Fresh fruit and vegetables, while they last!
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- Some of the letter sent to Nabil by school children in Qatar, to read on his journey.
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- Some of the artwork sent to Nabil by school children in Qatar.
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- It has been a week of many visitors. Here, four of Nabil’s nieces and his nephew sit beside the Liberty II, docked at the Marina, awaiting tomorrow’s departure.
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- Unwrapping a Palestinian-themed flag of Ahed Tamimi, a well-known young Palestinian protester detained by Israel.
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- Nabil’s sister Soraya made Nabil a doll of Ahed Tamimi, ala Wilson the volleyball, in Tom Hanks’ movie Castaway.
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- Tired but determined. Nabil stands at the stern of Liberty II, less than a day away from the beginning of the Golden Globe Race. Follow Nabil’s progress on this website, TeamPalestineGGR.com
CAPTAIN NABIL AMRA & TEAM PALESTINE
My name is Nabil Amra, I’m a proud Palestinian, a proud American, and an avid sailor. In 2015, it was announced that there would be a Golden Globe Race held in 2018 to mark the 50th anniversary of the original race. I was fortunate enough to be able to secure one of 30 coveted positions for the race. I will be sailing under the Palestinian flag as a showing of solidarity with the ongoing suffering of Palestinians and their unyielding desire for freedom. I respectfully and humbly ask for your support.
Above: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, first man to sail solo, nonstop around the world, with Golden Globe competitor Nabil Amra (USA/Palestine), who is campaigning the Biscay 36 ketch rigged production yacht LIBERTY II, which was fitted out at the Falmouth Boat Co. in preparation for the start of the 2018 Golden Globe Race. (Photo: Barry Pickthall/PPL)
