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o the average person, the idea of setting off across the Pacific in a 31-ft both Scott, 40, and Pam, 44, grew up sailboat would be humbling, if not absonear the water, he at Santa Monica and lutely terrifying. But imagine trying it if she on Mount Desert Island in Maine, your eyesight allowed you to see nothing where her father worked as a rigger for distinctly beyond the bow of your boat. Hinckley Yachts. Such is the case with Scott Duncan They've attempted this ambitious and Pam Habek. In the fall of 2004, they cruise, most fundamentally, as a perset out from San Francisco aboard their sonal quest, to push Valiant 31, Tournesol, themselves well bewith the intention of yond the normal limbecoming the first its implied by their legally blind sailors disability. But they to circumnavigate hope their voyage will the globe. Despite also send a strong a series of setbacks message to others, and typical offshore both visually impaired travails, they arrived and fully sighted, to safely in New Zealand set lofty goals in life, November 10, 2005, even if they initially weary but jubilant, seem unattainable. with every intention As they arrive at each of continuing their new landfall, and are journey around the inevitably introduced world. They are curto visually impaired rently on a stateside locals, they serve as hiatus, working to emissaries of hope fatten their cruising Seen here relaxing on a Tahitian beach, and inspiration. Pam kitty. In a sport often Scott and Pam are quietly making history, explains that part of her motivation in joindominated by mas- while forging new friends. ing the cruise was "to reach out to blind sive egos, technologically sensational children everywhere who feel all alone boats and flashy P.R. campaigns, the and live by limitations set by others." improbable plans of this unassuming disabled couple and their 26-year-old double-ender drew little attention initialhe first major step of Scott and ly. When word did get out, not all of the Pam's journey was participating in the reaction was positive. Well-intentioned 2004 Baja Ha-Ha rally. Having successcritics regarded the idea to be unsafe, fully worked their way down the coast reckless, and perhaps even suicidal. But to San Diego, Tournesol was one of 145 they underestimated Scott and Pam's starters that year. During the first leg, determination, as well as their intellihowever, they were plagued by both gence and ability to cope with seemingly engine and steering problems, which neimpossible challenges. cessitated an extended layover in Turtle "I have always dreamed about sailing Bay. They didn't arrive at Cabo San around the world," says Scott, "and I am Lucas until the evening of the Awards a person who deeply believes that we
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"I have always dreamed about sailing around the world, and I am a person who deeply believes that we should all pursue our dreams." should all pursue our dreams." Originally, Scott planned to circumnavigate alone, but during the time he was upgrading Tournesol for this epic journey he began dating Pam, who'd been a friend and working associate for years. Eventually, he invited her to join him. "I never in a million years thought she'd say yes!" he recalls. But she did. Although raised on different coasts, Page 132 •
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Ceremony, a full two days later than the majority of the fleet. But after carefully anchoring in the dark in Cabo's broad anchorage, they caught a ride ashore from a neighboring rallier, as they were determined to record their finish. Organizers, who'd been worried about them, were both stunned and relieved to see them, and the fleet greeted them with a standing ovation.
Their months in Mexico were happy ones — mostly. They grew to love the cruising life and the Mexican culture, but Scott suffered a burst appendix, which landed him in a Puerto Vallarta hospital for eight days, followed by eight long weeks of convalescence. Nevertheless, the timing was serendipitous — if it had happened while in mid-ocean, of course, it may have killed him. They'd originally planned to sail south to Ecuador, then on to the Galapagos, but with the medical setback, they opted to sail west instead with the Zihuatanejo contingent of Pacific Puddle Jumpers. Once there, Pam discovered that she too needed an operation, albeit a minor one, which meant a 200-mile beat back to P.V. By the time they finally shoved off from Nuevo Vallarta on May 5, 2005, they were nearing the end of the theoretical springtime weather window, and were at the very back of the Puddle Jump fleet. Only four other cruising boats were out there to participate in an SSB net. While at times difficult, the 31-day crossing to Nuku Hiva, in the northern Marquesas, was tremendously fulfilling for this gentle couple, who'd been reminded of their limitations since infancy. Every ocean passage has its magical moments. For Scott and Pam it was a full moon night near the equator, about 900 miles out, where they'd been drifting around for five days with little wind. "About midnight we went through a
