Thursday 18 August 2011

34 hours of going to windward

The departure from Falmouth denoted a significant turning point in our trip. Over the next two days, we were to turn from inexperienced amateurs to hardened veterans, trained in the art of rope, cutlass and eye-patches. We were heading for our final destination, Milford Haven, and would reach there before Thursday was out, dead or alive. Although handicapped by light winds at first, this only allowed us to leisurely enjoy the majestic coastal scenery that is Land’s End, followed by the delightful Sennen Cove – England at its finest. To add to the natural beauty, a basking shark decided to greet us on our course, a gentle giant of the seas comparable to the Tenacity herself. But as we headed north, the weather changed, reflecting our own excitement at the long night ahead. For we were not planning on stopping, oh no! Quite the contrary, we would be taking it in turns to steer a true and noble course for Wales, two gallant sailors keeping watch while the others slept with the fishes...which were swimming on the opposite side of the hull. As merry England disappeared from our sights, our hearts filled with trepidation at the exertions to come. The short, desperate attempts at rest we achieved in between duty did not replenish our fraught minds and ragged bodies, staggering around in the depths of the boat as we struggled to clothe ourselves against the elements, many a good man falling foul of the intricacies of the salopettes as they fell to the floor. Despite all the odds, our souls persevered, and our efforts were to be rewarded by a greeting of friendly dolphins, bringing cheer and warmth back into our hearts. It may have been tough, but as land slowly reappeared through the morning mists, we knew in our minds that our lives would never again be the same for the experience. Milford Haven still seemed an eternity away at the break of dawn, but as we approached the entrance to the estuary, from the dark, black cloud emerged a shard of golden light, sent from above, to illuminate our long-desired goal. As we sit here now, it our securely anchored boat, we can appreciate the magnitude of our achievements, surviving encounters with sharks, Force 5 gales and the darkness of our own minds. The sun gently sets behind us, and now at last we may rest contented.


Jamie and Kamil.

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