Ramsgate to Poole -- Our Last Overnight Passage (for this year, anyway)

 

Our last overnight passage (of this tour, anyway). Milky Way. Moonrise. Shooting stars -- so many stars in the sky that some fell out, or as they say in Spanish, "it's raining stars." Five knots of speed over a nearly flat ocean using just the trinqueta (lower forward sail). And then this sunrise. If it’s gonna be our last for a while, the universe certainly conspired to make it a good one!

See 'ya later, Ramsgate! We're off to Poole.

 

This woman was one of very few people who came to the dock in the very early morning to see us off. A few days ago she and her young grandson had been one of the first in line to come aboard after we'd had a delayed opening due to tide, and a jerk of an entitled guy demanded to be first on.  She and I both knew his story was a lie, but she graciously let him "win," and she and her grandson became the second ones to board. Luckily for the universe, I was working quarterdeck after having to let him board at the gate. When she and grandson arrived, I whispered my thanks and told them to hang out until the deck was less crowded. After most of the people cleared, I took down the "authorized personnel only" rope and gave them a quick peek behind the scenes at the bridge and borrowed her phone for a few poses at the helm, in gratitude for her flexibility with jerk guy, before turning them loose back to the public areas to continue their tour. So she came back that last morning to tell me how much her son (the father of the boy) appreciated the photos! It's being able to make special memories like these for deserving folks that makes my job worthwhile. Yeah, the bridge and helm are part of my everyday life, but for that child, they were once in a lifetime.

   

Easy conditions, we made good speed and comfortable on this forward lower sail alone. 

Underway, we entertain ourselves with sail changes, safety drills, light maintenance, and the endless views. 

Nothin' but blue ... 

... in every direction

At the time, though we were tired and ready for our own schedule and space and privacy, we felt the bittersweetness of last-times. We've since learned that it probably won't be the last time; we're slated to go back to the ship summer 2025.