What a welcome!
Halcyon
Rob Withers
Sat 10 Dec 2011 21:40
What a welcome! We're now in Rodney Bay, St Lucia, gradually returning
to earth both literally and metaphorically after successfully completing
our crossing of the Atlantic.
Going back 48 hours, we were about 70Nm off St Lucia in very light
winds. During the night we alternated between engine and sail as the
wind rose and faded between about 4-8knots. Anything over 6 knots
allowed us to get 3knots towards Rodney Bay - which was about the
threshold at which it was worthwhile from a competition point of view.
Unfortunately, we needed to motor the last few miles across the line
and finished shortly after sunrise.
We crept into Rodney Bay marina feeling as though we were entering a
different world. Different people, different landscape, different
continent from the one we left 3 weeks before. As we docked, we were
plied with rum punch, beer, fruit and a small reception committee from
the Tourist Board playing the steel drums in our honour.
After calming down for a while, I then headed off to do the inevitable
bureaucracy. My cool almost failed in the Customs and Immigration
office and I needed to vacate the premises since there was a danger I
might express my views of their efficiency ('yes, you've been waiting
an hour and yes, you might have registered your arrival on-line as
requested but no, the system isn't working and here are the forms you
need to fill in. In triplicate. with a pen you don't have. And no
you can't borrow ours'). Anyway, Sarah sorted the Customs later with a
sweeter smile and cooler temperament.
The rest of the day and indeed today has passed in a mixture of food,
drink, many meetings, fantastic hospitality and helpfulness from
everybody - especially the locals. Stories of swimming with whales,
near death adventures, a tragic real death on board, fish caught and
larger ones that got away. Days without food for some, drifting
without diesel for others, sails shredded, showers missed and squalls
that hit. A small amount of useful work has been done cleaning up -
it's taken 2 days to achieve what could probably have been done in 2
hours were it not for the heat, tiredness and the almost constant
stream of friendly meetings.
It looks as though we are likely to have won our class on handicap,
with all the nearest rivals having motored substantially more than us.
So we hope to have some silverware to pick-up next weekend.
So, at the end of this, the last ARC blog, the camera pans away to
leave the heroes sitting in a bar with steels drums in the background
and the sun setting over the lush hillside behind.
If you've been affected by any of the issues raised in this blog and
would like to find out more, you can continue to follow Halcyon at
blog.mailasail.com/halcyon
