33:09S 113:28E

Tales of Amok's Adventures
Mike Jones
Mon 31 Jan 2011 13:04
DAY 44 Cape Town to Fremantle 31st Jauary 2011

Well, Bianca has finally picked up her skirts, turned and left us in peace. Yeah!!

After a few sail repairs we have re-hoisted the yankee and are blasting towards Perth at 8-9 knots, an even bigger yeah!! Distance to destination; 136 miles and counting down...

On the eve of our arrival into Fremantle (arrival tomorrow afternoon, subject to conditions remaining as they are), it's time for a moment of reflection.

Mike and I are incredibly lucky to have raised two plucky individuals (calling them children is inaccurate) who were willing and able to participate in this chance of a life time trip, which took us from Simon's Town, South Africa to Fremantle, Western Australia via isle de Saint Paul, Antarctica. Yes, they had their reservations and concerns, but regardless of these concerns, they elected to participate and have been an integral part of our crew. They will probably never trust us again, when we respond to their question "How long will it take?", but that's something for us to worry about on another day. Not today.

We are equally incredibly lucky to have an enormous amount of support from friends, family, the South African Maritime Mobile Net and Clough, as an employer who has fully supported this (ad)venture, from its inception many years ago, though to its Phase II completion. Thank you doesn't cut it somehow .

Similar to executing an offshore construction project, there's an enormous amount of planning and preparation which is required for a trip of this magnitude. Once all the planning and preparation is done and the trip/project is being undertaken at the best time of year, with a team who have understood and assessed the risks, things are largely left up to luck. Maybe there are some of you who think luck shouldn't have a mention, but I can assure you, it has played a very big role for us.

It would be misleading of us not to recognise the role which luck has played in this particular voyage.

We were very fortunate to have met up with the French Fishing Vessel "Austral" at Isle de Saint Paul, as their generosity with food was overwhelming, The good news is that we have eaten most of it (as you all know by now). As a lesson learned, and all cards on the table here, we underestimated the quantity of food required for our voyage, and this was a significant concern for me (SS) until Saint Paul. I have had the fortune of never going hungry, and certainly, never been in a position where my family has had to go hungry, but I can assure you, this was most definitely on the cards before Saint Paul. When Austral's crew delivered box after box of provisions, I cannot being to describe the relief I felt.

We have been very lucky to have the incredible support and assistance of Graham, who has worked on behalf of the South African Maritime Mobile Net, who has provided us with invaluable weather information, every step of the way.

So folks, that's the serious bit done, Meerkat is singing in a Yorkshire accent, the blue team is on dinner duty (third big yeah of the day) and there's cold beer in the fridge.

Yes, we have taken longer than planned, but some dreams take a little longer than expected.

Salty Sal, with Lady Luck on her shoulder xx

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