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Dala - There's nothing like family!



Hi All,



Everything is OK on board, no worry!

We are in our second sailing day in this third and last leg of our Atlantic crossing. We had a crew change in the Azores. Our talented crew Richard flew back home, in the US. And my brother Harry together with my brother-in-law Robert joined DALA.

So, with my Lady Joelle and myself, we are now four onboard, a family only crew. And that's great! There is nothing like family! But you know, the events in life of each one of us and the globalization process are separating us. Some are living in some remote country, some are very successful in their careers and seldom available and so on.

It is therefore a very precious moment to meet together, not for a brief drink, but 24 hours together on the same boat, very few internet, only some marine radio, no TV at all. Only some good music, good books, and a lot of real communication between us, many talks, not the common superficial daily chats. And we learn many things about each other, about ourselves too. We also teach each other something. Joelle, Robert and Harry are exchanging cooking recipes and tips. I am transferring to Robert and Harry some of the sailing experience I acquired these last years, Harry gives me a full high level fishing course, Ph D style! Robert is challenging our established ideas on every subject, Joelle is quietly showing us what a Superwoman is.

Simply said, a fantastic family exchange at an intimate level that can be reached only within the family.

Example: Yesterday, we had (again!) that stupid event of a fishing line tangled on the propeller (and also the rudder this time). So I had again to plunge to the sea in the middle of nowhere to clean the mess. I took a simple kitchen knife and suddenly my brother Harry stopped me: "Hey, Albert, take with you a real knife!". And he handed to me a fantastic, beautifully crafted, razor-bladed Smith and Wesson knife. WOW! I have to tell you that Harry, who I nickname sometimes "Indiana Jones" and sometimes "Ralph Nader", always find incredible objects to buy, he is very talented.

So, I jumped to the sea with this fabulous knife and a short while later I was back on board, mission accomplished, and thanked Harry.

About an hour later, Harry was preparing the fishing equipment while I was on watch. Harry asked me: "Have you a One Euro coin?". In spite of the fact that I wondered what Harry could do with one Euro in the middle of the Atlantic, I brought him from my cabin a One Euro coin. And then Harry took the coin with a large smile and handed me his exceptional Smith and Wesson knife while telling me: "I can't give you this knife as a gift because there's a belief that it could cut the friendship. So, I "sell" you this knife for one Euro!!".

Remember: There's nothing like family! It is the only thing which remains, when the "movie" of our life comes to an end.



Bye for now,



Albert

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