Half Way celebrations
Alize
Mike Somerville
Wed 5 Dec 2012 18:59
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17:57.814N 37:22.744W
Today is the birthday of Saint Nicolas
(Sinterklaas) and of course our journey would not be complete without a
full celebration according to Dutch tradition. Yesterday evening Barbara
explained to us that he might be arriving on a horse to bring presents
assisted by helpers all known as Black Peit, and that we should leave a
shoe on deck to be filled with any present he might care to leave, as well
as a drink of water for his horse. We are all a bit puzzled and ask Barbara
few questions, like 'why if it is his birthday does he bring US a present?' -
but Barbara has heard this and other such questions before, and we are
soon convinced and dutifully leave the necessary on deck. Imagine our
surprise and indeed wonderment when in the morning the shoes are full of
biscuits and chocolate money, and the water bowl has been drunk. We gather
on deck to have a laugh, celebrate his birthday, and read a poem on
each of us which have been left in a canvas bag.- each signed by Sint &
Piet, along with the present of a bracelet each made from a rare form of pink
kevlar cord.
We are not of course completely convinced, thinking
it just possible that Barbara has more to do with this than she is
admitting. If so she is a jolly good poet, as well as sailor. She admits that
her Mother and friends from home may have had something to do with it and we are
all delighted at the effort that has gone into the surprise.
Another celebration today, we have passed the
halfway mark and will celebrate tonight with some Spanish delicacies.
The wind has come down to around 18kn, we have dropped the main and genny,
we have hoisted the Parasailor for the first time since the start, and we
are storming along with blue seas under a blue sky and with 1400nm to
go. Phew, getting hot - sea temperature 31C. Our last sighting of a boat was
yesterday, an ARC competitor in a large catamaran with whom we had a brief radio
chat. So, not much happening in mid Atlantic except what nature put there, and
thank God, no windmills.
We all had another refreshing water fight shower
and Barbara has done some laundry - setting an example for us all!
The water maker is in full production, creating 5 litres an hour of lovely
drinking water which we are putting in the tanks.
Regards,
Mike, Tim, Barbara & Mike
PS What was the name of Sherlock Holmes dog? We are
a bit lost without Google access!
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