37:06.65N 08:40.55W
Margery will probably never forgive me for a) kidnapping
her husband b) keeping him for a year or so and c) leading him astray and
teaching him lots of bad habits.
I’m sorry your bathroom never got finished Margery but I
know you’ll beat him back into shape
eventually.
It all kicked off in May 2009 when we drove overland to
Greece to start work preparing the
boat for a big voyage. It finished in June 2010 when we reached
Portugal via the Caribbean.
Barrie’s vital
statistics.
Over 10,000 miles sailed. Crossed the Atlantic in both directions – one easy – one tough.
Bragging rights earned with the West to East
trip.
11
National boundaries - Italy, Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal, St Lucia, The
Grenadines, Antigua, France, Dutch Antilles, British Virgin Islands,
Bermuda
28 Islands – Sicily, Menorca, Formentera, Porto Santo,
Madeira, Desertas Grande, Selvagem Grande, Gran Canaria, St Lucia, Bequia, Union
Island, Petit St Vincent, Petit St Martinique, Palm Island, Baradal Island, Petit Bateau, Antigua,
Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Martinique, Terre-de-Haut, Barbuda, St Maarten,
Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Tortola, Bermuda, Horta
Swam mid Atlantic 1,000 miles from anywhere and then
again in the Sargasso
Sea.
Survived Portuguese men of war, Sargasso seaweed, 50 knot
winds, 5 metre seas, the Bermuda triangle,
Bermudian mopeds, maggots in the raisins and the
mafia.
Did the entire return crossing and became a super-hero.
Biggles was born.
Picked up lots of bad habits from the skipper – now has
an appetite for dark rum and ginger ale, Caribbean women, growing a beard – the
list is endless but I’ll stop there!
I’ll miss you mate – you’ve been a fantastic crew member
– never complaining and doing lots of the jobs nobody else wanted to do. Who’s
going to clean the bright steelwork now?
So Biggles – in no particular order - this is your life.
Enjoy.
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My over-riding memory of Barrie - lovingly
tweaking the sails – note the lack of
beard |
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Back to the start of it all – Barrie beefing up the
battery bank |
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That’s a big word – I wonder what it
means? |
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I’ve just thought of something – wish I could
remember what it was. |
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Now I remember – must be having one of my lucid
moments |
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Barrie showing off his 10 finger
typing skills |
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Lots of time to grow a beard while you’re
sailing |
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First 600 miles of Atlantic under the belt – arriving in Porto
Santo |
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All those art evening classes paid off
then! |
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I
swear the cabins are getting smaller these
days |
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Selvagem Grande – Peejay in the
background |
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Putting Peejay’s name on the boom in Las
Palmas |
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Nice tights! Las Palmas before the
start |
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That’s the deepest swimming pool you’ll ever swim
in – I guarantee it- Mid ocean |
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Ate too much on the
crossing! |
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Exciting moment – Arriving at dawn – the other side
of the Atlantic |
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Sweet success! |
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Beats yachting any day! Zip lining
St
Lucia |
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Baradal island - in the Grenadines |
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Another bad habit picked up from skipper –
Caribbean
women! |
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Loblolly Bay – Anegada – Skipper’s
favourite beach in the world |
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See what I mean about bad
habits? |
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But this was what the year was really all about!
Congratulations on your achievement.
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Biggles – the hero – Atlantic crossing – the hard
way – bragging rights earned |
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