People along the way
PASSEPARTOUT
Christopher & Nirit Slaney
Mon 8 Nov 2010 19:09
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We have now been away for three months and sailing
for just eight weeks.
Apart of the beautiful scenery, the work on Passepartout
and of course the sea and the waves, we meet all kind of people each with their
own story. This makes the whole expedition much
more interesting. The first couple we met, whom we mentioned before, are Philip
and Daniel with whom we shared a boatyard in the south of France.
Like us they
were preparing for an Atlantic crossing, having some work done on
their Benneteau 46 'Sweet Surrender' and we have been in close touch more
or less since then, sharing meals and sundowners, sharing rented
cars and walking across various beaches and
mountains. They eat healthily, run whenever they
get the chance and, like us, are on the lookout for interesting experiences
and events. We parted company last week, as they
have a date with the ARC crowd in Gran Canaria, but I'm sure our paths will
cross before too long.
Other cruising crew we meet are all heading south
or west and will set course for the Caribbean during the coming two
months. Today for the third time in less than a
month we are anchored close by a French family, Gerard, Francoise and Joshua, on
board their smart and fast catamaran. Gerard is a retired dental technician who
decided in his own words, "time and adventures are more important than money." At the end of December
he will start his fifth Atlantic crossing. He's done a lot and seen plenty, but
obviously still have an appetite for more.
And there are people who sail together in groups. not a
real organized group , but they talk each morning by radio and
seem to move as a gang from one anchorage or marina to the next. We've fallen
into the habit of listening to their morning radio relay and take note of the
advice they share.
The last port we visited was a small fishing boat
harbour. It is a gathering spot for no small number of French
single-handed sailors, most of them with small yachts of indeterminate marque
and year . More than a few have dogs on board! Does this mean they are not
genuine single-handed? One of them told me how his dog was washed overboard off
the Moroccan shore and he managed to save it.
So in this way we are making
friends for a day, friends for a journey, and maybe even friends we will
stay in touch with, and this is only the beginning of our trip.
The human part of the journey is no less
fascinating than the voyage itself.
Nirit.
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