Finally leaving... soon
W2N 'Where to Next?'
Rob 'Bee' Clark
Mon 9 Mar 2009 10:19
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The nature of the 'Where to Next?' project dictates
that with every landfall, there will inevitably be new friends, new experiences
and fond memories. There will be sad goodbyes and obligatory promises to "keep
in touch" too but I can say without any hesitation that when I finally leave St
Helena on Wednesday, it will be with a heavy heart and a sadness that I'd
thought, hoped, I had become immune to. The truth is that St Helena is, on so
many levels, an extraordinary place; a well-guarded secret treasure in the
British South Atlantic Territories.
I've been here for well over a month now - long
enough to grow an impressive beard, explore most of the fantastic (and not
altogether that safe) 'Postbox Walks' and meet the world's youngest
single-handed circumnavigator Zac Sunderland who arrived a few days ago. In
fact, I sailed out with a handful of locals to welcome Zac to the island that I
have come to regard with a particular affection. I should have been leaving for
Namibia today but I'm waiting (still) for the RMS St Helena to arrive with a new
fresh water circulation pump which, having managed to get the broken one
repaired, is now an expensive spare and a frustrating delay! Having said that, I
thought I would be getting bored by now but I'm still making new friends every
day and getting more involved in community projects and with the Yacht Club. I
couldn't even begin to list all the people who have been so kind to me - there
are so many. Other yacht crews, local 'Saints', ex-pats, contractors and
visitors have all welcomed me as a friend and a minor celebrity eclipsed only by
the seventeen year old Zac's arrival. The island is generally starved of news so
having the world's youngest circumnavigator and the world's first sailing 'Dice
Man' is a rare opportunity to raise awareness and I will certainly be
documenting my experience in the book with unreserved praise. It'll include
stories of sailing with a whale shark, walking the stunningly precipitous trails
that lace the unimaginably inspiring scenery, reading original copper-plate 18th
century ledgers from the archives, exploring the many coastal forts, Napoleonic
sites and so many other examples of St Helena's singularly unequalled treasures,
personalities and unexploited attractions.
I must thanks Nicole Peters; Miss St Helena, for
rolling the dice live on Saint FM more than two weeks ago. She rolled a four
which means I'll be heading for Luderitz in Namibia and it's going to be a
challenging leg of the project. I've heard a lot of good things though not just
about Luderitz but about the subsequent voyage around South Africa and I'm
looking forward to that. Sailing against the wind, currents and waves is taking
its toll on Canasta and it'll be the first opportunity to lift her out
of the water for some much needed attention.
Right, that's all from me for now but I'll keep you
posted on my progress once I'm underway but for the time being, the ship's
delayed again as it has turned back to Ascension to pick up a bomb disposal
expert! My friend Ben, an archaeologist working on the island, discovered a room
full of 19th century explosives while digging around in one of the many forts...
Just one more example of the fact that the island is largely unexplored,
undeveloped, unspoilt and unforgettable.
More soon,
Bee
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