I have very fond memories of the festive and emotional farewell ceremony on August 5. Another wonderful moment was our arrival in Barbados. It was a great relief to arrive there on our own keel despite some difficulties at the beginning, such as the rudder damage caused by orcas. Encounters with the inhabitants of the oceans can be quite wonderful. When dolphins suddenly appear out of nowhere and shoot up all around the boat or turtles stick their heads out to catch a breath in the anchor bay at breakfast.
One moment in particular stands out: On the Atlantic crossing back to Europe we spotted a sei whale that surfaced very close to the boat several times and accompanied us for several hours. The incident with the orcas off the Spanish coast was the worst. Thankfully, we were able to deal with it in a calm, level-headed manner and a healthy dose of humour. On land, we immediately received support from club members, the Board and our insurance company, so we could have the damage repaired as quickly as possible and continue our journey.
At the time there were only three crew members on board who could safely manage the boat in such conditions, so the days and especially the nights were physically and mentally challenging. The Atlantic crossing to the Azores presented us with technical, physical and psychological hurdles. Our nerves were tested right at the beginning because we got stuck in the doldrums for four days with no prospect of wind.
After we had made good progress for a few days, the wind picked up and we had to change headsails. One crew member injured his knee and had to drop out of the watch schedule. This put our psyche to the test again at the end of the crossing, as life below decks in these conditions is very uncomfortable and every mile drags on.
In addition to the sailing challenges I have already mentioned, there is of course the ongoing maintenance and servicing work. Then there is the organization of changing the crews, crew planning for the next stages and carrying out unforeseen repairs without falling off the set timetable. No two days are the same and every day brings a new challenge of varying degrees of difficulty. I also have the freedom to anchor in a variety of bays, watch the sunrise and sunset and enjoy the pleasant temperatures of the Caribbean.
