TEAM RUSSIA EMAIL: 'Straighten Up and Fly Right'

Wednesday 26 November 2008 01:15

Team Russia – Mark Covell (Media Crew Member)

I’ve never stolen my dad’s car and taken it for joy ride, but if I had this is what it must feel like. 48 hours ago we stole the keys, let the handbrake off, freewheeled it down the drive so as not to wake the folks. We are now off, heading out East to seek our fame and fortune. Oh yes, we do have the top down and with Creedence Clearwater Revivals, “Up Around the Bend” blaring out of the stereo as loud as it goes. “Up around the bend,” says it all. The opening lyrics say: ‘There’s a place up ahead that I’m going. Just as fast as my feet can fly. Come on the rising wind. We’re going up around the bend’.

However, we’re not going round the bend. I must make it absolutely clear that we are not desperately hitting a corner. The decision came from the information processed. An easterly strategy was formed. Heads were scratched, views were voiced and data was questioned. I admire this team that it is brave enough to do something different. Wouter Verbraak our navigator or Wouter the Router spent along time trying to disprove investment in the east. The more he looked the stronger the data said straighten up and fly right.

So the whole crew now know we are on a dangerous joyride. They have sensed the tension and upped the anti, pushing harder. I didn’t know there was a harder to push, but apparently there is. We have not donned the magical cloak of invisibility and morphed into stealth mode. We know the fleet is watching us and like the law, they are planning a roadblock at the old sawmill on the back straight. The thing is we aren’t on that road; we took the dust track, up past the haunted barn, over the hill and far away. They now can’t get to us if they wanted to with out downing A-sails and beating up to us. The music has just changed on the stereo; we’re now bouncing to Malcolm McLarens 80’s hit “Buffalo Gals, Go Round the Outside”.

So as we sail out to Cornersville, population one. Ready to ring the bell hanging on the edge of the map. We wait nervously for dad to ring and say, “It’s okay son, you’ve had your fun. Just bring the car back home safely and it will all be OK.” The reality is we’re not taking calls and we’re still running wild, down that Eastern dust track, ready to hang a left and see if we can out run the fleet. We are having fun and if it works or it doesn’t you can’t say we didn’t try. The glow of the morning sun is now lighting up the horizon. With one hand on the wheel, elbow resting out of the car door, top still down and the in-car stereo is still playing out loud and proud, “Fat Bottom Girls” By Queen “Won’t you take me home tonight?” Please.

Received 01:15