Finished
Tioram 4
Tina & Tony
Fri 11 Dec 2009 17:05
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Hello from Rodney Bay --St Lucia.
We arrived across the finishing line at 10.22 am local
time.
We have stalled the boat for the last 24
hours, running on genoa alone to arrive in daylight rather than the
predicted 4am darkness. Moira, Al , Mike and myself had the luxury of arriving
by day 5 years ago and we decided to do the same again.
We neared the islands in big seas after another night of
dodging squalls. We saw Martinique first to starboard/right and the
shoreline lights around 4 am and as dawn broke and we sailed on we saw the
silouhette of St Lucia.
As we approached the island we saw the grey shape change
to colour----then the vegetation and houses become visible and then Pigeon
island----an outcrop of rock which we rounded in our run into the finish
line.
We ran with a professional photographer who hopefully took
some good photos.
We were met on the dock in true caribbean spirit with rum
punches, fruit basket, and cheers from a neighbouring ARC boat who took our
lines.
An extra treat is that Jane , Mikes wife flew in yesterday
and was waiting for us on the dock.
The crew have gone off to the bar for ' a few drinks', we
are off to sort out customs---hopefully a quick fix and will be off to join the
party of all parties !!!!!!!!!!
Its been a tough crossing in comparison to our crossing 5
years ago when Al, Moira, Mike and myself sailed on a challenge yacht----met and
became life long friends.
Tony has waited so long for this experience and Pat joined
us to ' live the dream'.
The voyage has tested all of us and left us with little
time to enjoy one anothers company---- an important part fo me personally. I
also promised Tony balmy nights looking at the beauty of the stars in 'Gods
cathedral', sunsets and sunrises to marvel over. Sadly the trip did not allow
this.
However, it was a challenge for all of us to face big
seas-----sail the boat safely and to face the challenges of a difficult Atlantic
crossing.
With this type of crossing you gain other things----a
great sense of trust and comaraderie which comes with placing your safety in the
hands of others and now we are safely in the dock a big sense of
achievment.
We have broken 2 sails, but the boat handled brilliantly
and never let us down. We had water dumped into the cockpit up to our knees and
the boat at times was pushed sideways in big seas.
The great thing is that due to the care and consideration
shown to one another---no one was hurt.
In adversity comes a greater sense of the team spirit and
greater sense of achievment------------------and a great sense of
humour.
All said and done its time to start the
party----------------you may find a gap in our blogs for ------------------ a
while-----------------------
Love to all our families and friends who have kindly
followed the good ship Tiorams Atlantic adventure,
Tina , Tony, Alisdair, Mike, Moira and Pat x x x x x x x
x
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