In 2001, preparing to challenge Mandarin's great record, Great American II arrived in New York at Chelsea Piers on the night of September 10, 2001. The next morning, the World Trade Center was attacked, and the twin towers fell. Rich Wilson and his shipmate Bill Biewenga volunteered in the field hospital set up that morning at Chelsea Piers.

Wondering whether to go as planned on September 16 or to cancel, Wilson polled teachers who had signed up for the live education program from the voyage. Overwhelmingly the response was: "go, and do something good for the kids". Delaying until September 19, with special dispensation from the Coast Guard who had closed the Port of New York, Great American II departed New York for Melbourne.

Once offshore, the ocean task at hand needed full attention. Unusual headwinds put GAII behind Mandarin in the first week. Struggling mightily across the equator, and down the coast of Brazil, GAII slowly drew even. In the Indian Ocean, hundreds of albatross accompanied GAII for thousands of miles. Cold, cold, cold it was and every 4 hour watch required full Antarctic clothing. The Aurora Borealis and Southern Cross kept the crew company at nights. Mandarin dove south into the Furious Fifties, cutting the miles shorter, while GAII stayed in the Roaring Forties, needing extra speed simply to match the charging clipper.

A 1% chance (by the Pilot Charts) of easterlies stopped GAII in her tracks off Cape Leeuwin, and her hard-fought margin dwindled to a day. The last 1500 miles, GAII clawed for every 1/10 of a knot, hanging on to her slim margin into the Bass Strait, then entering Port Phillip Bay by the treacherous Cut. Arriving in Melbourne, her time of 68 days 10 hours, barely edged Mandarin by a day.

En route, Wilson and shipmate connected to thousands of kids with daily Ship's Log, Journals, Essays, Q&A, Photos, Audio, and Video.