day 18
BumbleBee
Tim and Julia and Tiger
Thu 2 Feb 2012 11:24
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position 13:04.7 N 59:22.4 W
In the wee dark hours last night, the light
pollution of barbados increased its glow above the horizon . We see
land! What is this word 'land'? It has become taboo over the last 18 days. Many
subjects have been discussed, but never 'land'; a lost hope in a world of
suspended animation. We have shared our secret supplies of chocolate,
crosswords, music and the last orange, but never voiced how much we wanted to be
on land. When there is no choice, what's the point?
I was asked/told to deliver the 3 members of the Cox
family to Barbados, with due regard for their importance. Mission accomplished.
No one was tied to the mast (shame!); no one threatened with walking the plank (
close, but I'd forgotten where I stowed the plank!) I was going to insist that
everyone made their own cat-o-nine-tails just in case of gross disorder, but
even that wasn't necessary (shame again!)
The Crown of Glory for Outstanding Achievement, goes to
the wind pilot self-steering system. It worked tirelessly and mostly without
fault to keep us on a direct course for days on end. Tim casually proposed
the awarding of this accolade, and its recipient. I agreed. Then he became very
animated with suggestions for re naming 'her'! Good Lord, not that old chestnut
again. It's definitely time we went ashore.
xx
P.S. We have fulfilled our dream to sail our boat across
the Atlantic. We are fantastically lucky to have been able to achieve this. For
years I have pounced on (verbally) anyone I met who admitted to having sailed
across to the Carribean on a small yacht. Eager to be inspired, I was always met
with a wry smile, a wistful grin and vaguely encouraging, but not
rapturous, comments. I often wondered what I was NOT being told. Now I know...it
is a long, long way; it is very blue and vast and the weather can be
uncomfortably unfavourable.
If you would like to do such a thing, sit down, grab the
phone, and book yourself a plane ticket.
Apart from all that, it was
amazing!
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