Nearly there

We are half a day from Cape Hatteras, from there a hundred miles to Chesapeake Bay, and then a final hundred and thirty miles up Chesapeake Bay to Annapolis and Pier 7 on South River, the marina where we will be docking. All and all just over three hundred miles to go. Depending on conditions ahead, we will be arriving either Saturday or Sunday. We won't let our guard down until we are safely tied up.

When we departed from Cape Town, we were hoping to arrive in Annapolis by the fifteenth of June, eight weeks and eight thousand miles later. We've spent a week at the various stops we made, and thus covered the eight thousand miles in seven weeks. It took patience, trust and sail changes whenever required. On a good day we may change sails five times, at other times we keep the same sail up for a week or more. Just staying consistent and keep on doing our best.

Our motto was that if there is enough wind to keep the sail up, we will sail it. At times we were doing four knots, and at other times eight knots. The eight knot were more than the four knot spells, and our average is well above six knots. What also assisted greatly is having top quality sails, and the folding props also made a huge difference over such a long distance. Fixed props slows you down, creates vibration and noise, and wear and tare on the sail drives.

The excitement to be on land again for a while is quietly building. It will take some time getting used to. I am used to being awake during the early hours of the morning, and sleep a bit during the day. We are six time zones away from home, and will suffer a bit of jet lag as well. Coming from warm weather and back to a positively cold South Africa will also require some getting used to. And then of course having lots of people around, lots of activities, feeling a bit like an outsider observing all the madness around. But most of all, unspeakable happiness for having our loved ones around us again. That is what we are looking forward to most The rest we adapt to, as we adapt to a life at sea. Hopefully we will have to cellphone signal from tomorrow onwards.

Take care, eat healthy, exercise a bit and stay warm.

Paul









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