Dear loyal blog followers,

We have arrived at last in Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia after travelling 2978 nautical miles and taking  21 days 10  hours 7 mins and 33 secs (approx) to complete our crossing.
I’m writing this one day out so I can remember what has happened before the rum kicks in and sabotages my one and only brain cell.
It all started for me as a passing comment to Terry (North)  Oliver, that if Peter wanted a crew for the ARC I was available. This was during a Radio Controlled Laser sailing day at Delph Sailing Club (very friendly club always looking for new members) near Bolton. This was sometime in mid June and within a few days I was doing the ARC.

I’ll not bother with the sailing bits but here are my thoughts since then.
In my first blog I mentioned Jerome K Jerome’s “Three Men in a Boat” as an analogy. Both sets of men set off with a target to reach and I then said I wasn’t sure which one I would fancy doing. I would love to row down the Thames and pull in when it rains or fancy a drink and may do it one day  but sailing across the Atlantic is a one way journey with no "I'm  not sure about this drop me off" options

I now know it has to be this one. If anyone gets the chance to do it, think twice or possibly thrice before saying no. You may well hate the trip but with a good crew and we'll sorted boat(very -  in Peter’s case) the feeling when you cross the finishing line is like feeling you've won the America's Cup!
Would I do it again?  the crew would have to be as good if not better than ours for me to even think about it.

So that's it for my final blog aboard Christine's Trans Atlantic ARC 2016

Peter L.  No better skipper since Captain Bligh, but seriously Peter, thanks for asking me along.

Peter N.  No better chef since Fanny Craddock, never eaten or tasted food as good or as varied on a yacht. Sorry I couldn't taste anything, but it had texture!

Me, Third man who will now spend all the rest of my days in Saint Lucia cleaning this bloody boat!

Gary

PS Lynn and maybe others,  there never was a "part trois"  hope it kept you looking though.