28:07.65N  15:25.70W

It’s 7:00 am and the sun is rising over the marina from the east but it hasn’t broken the horizon yet.  It’s starting to get light, and it’s very quiet and peaceful.  Some low clouds scudding across the sky but they don’t look threatening.  I woke early today, around 6:30, which is different from the normal routine over the last fortnight of about 8:00 am.

Since the crew was still sound asleep I grabbed a bathroom bag and as quietly as possible snuck out to the public bathrooms for one last shave, wash and toothbrush in a bathroom where you don’t bang your elbows on the walls.  I’ll miss that luxury for the next few weeks J.  There were two other people in the bathroom, even at that early time, and we each went about our business.  Both men about my age or a little older, and we chatted innocuously.  It was clear to each of us we were sailors about to go.  And as men do, we did not strike up long and deep conversations, we politely made some jokes about a drunk wandering by outside on the street singing, finished our business and left.

But as we left we looked each other in the eye and quietly and sincerely said a simple “Have a good one”.  Nothing else, not deep nor profound.  Just a nod and a statement.  We each knew exactly what those four words meant.  And for me that sums up both the peril and the promise that is in front of us.  Be careful but enjoy.  It’s time to chase the promise.

As I walked alone along the marina road back to the boat I was overwhelmed momentarily by the emotional intensity of that quiet morning moment.  Our boats are modern and well made, we have enormous resources (SSB’s, VHF’s, EPIRBS etc etc) at our call, and we will be both guided by the ARC and in the company of 225 other boats.  But I think there is still something incredibly personal and emotional in the journey we will each make over the next two to three weeks.  Perhaps we are all, at some level, dreamers and adventures in spirit. 

So to each and everyone on this journey, “Have a good one”.

Andy – 7:38 AM on Day 1 the Start Day.  Time to get the weather forecast and find out what these clouds portend.