zur Übersicht Betreff: A MAN WITH A DREAM Absender: Aroundalone Empfänger: redaktion@segel.de Datum: 27. Oct 2002 18:57 PR No. A MAN WITH A DREAM Canadian sailor John Dennis waves at the crowds just after start in New York - 27th October 2002 Earlier this year I got a call from a man who identified himself as a middle-age Canadian who was interested in doing the Around Alone race. He was looking to buy a boat, and I was looking to sell one. We agreed to meet at the boat yard in Rhode Island the following morning. I arrived at the yard early and was surprised to find the caller already on board. He had driven through the night from Toronto and had already been through the boat taking notes and making lists. I climbed on board and the man thrust out his hand. "Hi, IÂ’m John Dennis," he said. "IÂ’m going to buy your boat." Billy Black photo I looked at the man and was a bit concerned. He was obviously a businessman and showed all the signs of a man that worked too many hours, smoked too many cigarettes and probably had no idea what he was in for. He then told me that he was diabetic and wanted to be the first person with diabetes to sail around the world, alone. I left the meeting wondering if this was just another loony tire-kicker (there had been many), and was sure I would not hear from John again. A week later he called. "Send me a contract for the boat. I am going to have some meetings with sponsors," he said. "The guy is clueless," I thought, but sent him a contract anyway. An hour later a fax arrived with the signed contract to purchase the boat, and a payment schedule. I looked at the piece of paper and wondered if John knew how hard finding sponsorship could be. A month went by and the phone didnÂ’t ring. The first payment date came and went without any contact. The second payment date came and went, still no contact. When the time for the third payment came due I called John, who admitted he was having trouble finding a sponsor. I wasnÂ’t surprised. Many better qualified people had tried to raise money for the Around Alone, and they had failed. I told John that the deal would be off if he did not produce some hard currency very soon. John asked me to meet him at the boat yard the following morning. I agreed, and we met early the next morning after John had driven through the night. "At least this guy know how to pull all-nighters," I thought. Being able to stay awake all night is a good attribute for a solo sailor. At that meeting there was something I saw in JohnÂ’s eyes that I liked. He was the most optimistic and determined person I had ever come across. He pleaded with me to give him a few more weeks to raise the money, and then in an odd, but quite endearing gesture, he pulled his credit cards out of his pocket and asked if I could take an advance from his Diners Club. "Take a few thousand dollars and keep it," he said. "But hold the boat for just a few more weeks." It was not the offer of money that convinced me John was serious. It was the way he carried himself. He knew what he wanted and was going for it, to heck with the consequences. When I left the meeting I promised him I would not sell the boat to anyone else. He drove away and I never heard another word from him. No calls, no emails, nothing. Six weeks later I was driving to New York for the launching on Brad van LiewÂ’s boat Tommy Hilfiger Freedom America. The phone rang – it was John. "I have a sponsor," he said. "IÂ’m buying your boat." You can imagine my skepticism at that comment. We met the following morning at the boat yard and sure enough John had succeeded where many had failed. He had received backing from Bayer Diagnostics. So began a mad scramble to get the boat ready for the race. I was incredibly impressed with JohnÂ’s energy and determination, and his unwavering optimism. The rest, as they say, is history. John Dennis is an Around Alone competitor. He has lost the businessman look. Instead he is fit, very healthy, very happy, and doing something he promised his father almost 50 years ago. He promised that one day he would sail over the horizon and around the world. His father told him it was a "bold statement." That bold statement has been on JohnÂ’s mind ever since, and now he is succeeding in living his dream. JohnÂ’s story epitomizes the difficulties many competitors face when they enter this event. It is a hard struggle to just make the start line. As John celebrated his 58th birthday yesterday, he could celebrate more than just the passing of another year. He could celebrate the fact the he has become an inspiration to tens of thousands of people around the world. He can celebrate the fact that he is among the elite few sailors that are able to sail around the world alone. He can celebrate the fact that his sponsor, Bayer, are impressed with his articulate manner and performance, and he can celebrate that his diabetes is well under control thanks to new drugs made by his sponsor. John, you may have a long way to go to Cape Town, but there are many people here that are awaiting your arrival. People whose lives you have impacted. So sail on John Dennis, take care of the old boat, and we will see you soon. Brian Hancock great.circle@verizon.net Bayer's Ascensia™ brand sponsors first skipper with diabetes in Around Alone Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE