Day 16-17: THANK YOU All Of you ...
Coordinates: N14.04.459.,
W60.56.940 Dear readers, Coming into The Windward Islands
felt like a true homecoming. The sun rose when we were about two hours from St.
Lucia and Martinique, and we had a wonderful breeze when we sailed around Pigeon
Island and crossed the finish line. But what made the biggest impression was the
welcoming in the marina. Crews at boats that had arrived before us waved and
tooted when we motored towards our berth. We requested pontoon C where we knew
that our good friends at Go Beyond and Odin were waiting for us. And there was
rum punch, champagne, a one man steel band and lots of smiling sailing friends
who knew exactly how it feels to arrive after weeks at sea. And your
correspondent could see small teardrops in the eyes of S/Y Ronja’s crew
members….. We arrived in Rodney Bay on December
9th, 10:15:07 local time. The journey lasted 17 days, 1 hour, 7
minutes and 7 seconds. The final results are not yet ready – the handicap rules
are complicated and we don’t care all that much about them in any case – but to
our surprise we had more boats behind us than in front of
us. Stian won the journey betting
competition. His bet was 17 days and 2 hours so he missed by 53 minutes. Stian
and Snorre had the most optimistic bets – the others had 18 or 19 days.
A number of people (and one boat)
have been instrumental in making the journey from Las Palmas to St. Lucia, and
we would like to thank you all. In particular, we would like to mention the
following: Mona Ruud, for fully supporting
Stian’s wish to embark on the ship, for moral support in Las Palmas, and for the
most wonderful home-cooked pasta sauces. Erik and Elisabeth, for taking care
of the real Ronja (our duck tolling retriever) while we sail around the world,
and for being such great company in general. Torleif Nesheim, the sailing master
who taught us the ropes on the virgin journey from Dunquerqe to Oslo. Torleif
has always patiently explained (and usually re-explained) stuff that have been
very useful on the trip. Our colleagues at Nexia in Oslo, led
by Terje & Harald, for providing secret weapon number two and also the
confidence that should anything serious happen to us they would hunt down and
kickstart every capable Search and Rescue team around the Atlantic ocean. Also,
we thank all our colleagues at Nexia for making it such a great place to
work. Stig Herbern, for giving very
competent help when equipping and configuring the boat, for being an insightful
and positive colleague and leader, and for being so supportive of the
project. All the people who sent us emails
during the journey, and especially Mr. Suresh Govil of Lusaka, Zambia, for all
encouraging comments. All our new friends at the other ARC
boats for advice, help and fellowship before and during the crossing. We thank
Tom at Escape for the “kryssfokk” tip that added stability and at least half a
knot of speed. We thank Lars at Odin for his very competent help (and we still
cannot believe that he was able to fix his own boat with a serious rudder
problem in the middle of the Atlantic). We thank our new best friends at Go
Beyond for the rum punch and the blogs. Also, we’d like to thank the good people
at Espumero, Trollwind, Sunboy, Nika, Maggie V and Blue Voyager. We look forward
to celebrating with you in Rodney Bay and to continue around the world with many
of you. Also, we’d like to thank Tor Jo and Raluca aboard Mio for a great trip
to Gibraltar. The boat – Ronja. Always reliable.
Always trustworthy. A true globetrotter. The good people of the World
Cruising Club for organizing the ARC which made the crossing safer and much more
enjoyable. Vibeke and Jan Morten would also
like to thank: Jørgen, Mette and Georg for taking
care of things back home. All of the pack in Norway (you know
who you are!) for a special and lifelong friendship. Vibeke thanks all friends and
colleagues at Ånnerud barnehage. Vilde would like to thank everybody
for all support so far, and in particular all friends in 6B at Hagaløkka skole
and fellow singers in the Tempochoir. Stian would like to thank mamma,
Kirsti, and the rest of the family. I look forward to seeing you all in just a
couple of days here in Rodney Bay. Harald would also like to
thank: Mamma for the
teaching Pappa for the
preaching Howcome, ff, bsn, ogw, tdm/hmk for
all the trouble that I get into I’ve got to give credit where credit
is due I thank Tone for
directions And Neena: Thank God for
you. (And Harald would like to tell the
whole Ruud family hundre tusen takk for letting me join you on this leg. There
is no other crew and no other boat that I would rather
join.) (And Harald would like to tell Amun
and Aina how much I miss you. Just a few more days and we’ll meet up in St
Lucia!) And with this, dear readers, we end
the “Atlantic chapter” of the blog. But there will be many more blogs and
reisebrev from your affectionate crew aboard S/Y Ronja. Best regards from Vilde, Vibeke,
Stian, Snorre, Jan Morten & harrall.
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