Thursday Dec 8th, 5am: my final early morning shift starts. It's is a bit weird and an "anticlimax" after sailing up tempo and in a competitive mood to St Lucia for over 15 days. Now the motor of Engelen is running for over 36 hours already. Most of the competitors are facing the same: no winds what so ever and IF there is something one calls wind it comes from the West (270W). Exactly where we are heading to: St Lucia. The Ocean is flat as a pancake. Motoring on Engelen means that we can use the autopilot, so I do as well. Quite nice since some rain is falling and I can shelter under the Doghouse. Ipod in my ears, listening to Bruchs Violon #1 in G-minor. One of my favorites when sailing. Sunrise from the East, where this journey started almost three weeks ago. Spectacular clouds enlightened from the back. A brand new day on the doorstep. Not something the crew will notice. Christian, our German/Austrian winch- en sheetmanager, is lying on his back on Portside couch. Dreaming? Who knows? Andy, our brave and masculine LSE Law Student and Rugbyplayer: When awake he is our foredeck- and reefing manager. Now taking his beautysleep and looking funny with his red earplugs in on the Starboard couch. Mathew, our American captain, always alert during this trip. 24 hours, 7 days a week. Logical. Feeling responsible for ship and crew. Forgot to reset his alarm still so at 06:45 his friendly but - I am not awake yet - face pops up from the cabin, asking me how I and the boat are doing. Well, and sending him back to his cozy berth in the aft where temperatures are high because of the motor. Not pleasant knowing that temperatures outside are high enough to be on the wheel the whole night long in T-shirt.
And I? I am sitting on the bridge under the doghouse: Playing "the movie" called participation of Engelen on ARC 2011 over and over again. It makes me very happy and this trip has given me back what I lost back home: positive energy and the will to continue my businesses and making them successful.
Mathew thanks, S/Y Engelen thanks for the pleasant and safe "ride"!
Hope you've enjoyed our weblogs. We did in writing them!
roel