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.
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.