One Man, One Boat, 4000 Miles!!!

Tropic 4 Cancer Trans Atlantic challenge is an expedition to sail single-handed 4000 miles across the Atlantic, from the western seaboard of Africa to Antigua. The route follows a defined course along the Tropic of Cancer, which is a circle of latitude running around the Earth at approximately 23 degrees north, and which marks the most northerly position at which the sun may appear directly overhead. Find Out More

Day 20 – Harsh Realities

Posted on November 22nd, 2013

Sunset on the Ocean - 20/11/2013

Sunset on the Ocean – 20/11/2013

Over the last 24 hours, the wind directions have meant that I’ve dropped south of the Tropic of Cancer. I’ve been working hard to run as close to it as possible, but without now doing a couple of dog legs north, the southerly trend will continue. And the harsh realities of the Atlantic weather patterns are going to determine what happens next. Sadly, I do not have infinite time, nor sufficient supplies on board, to add extra mileage at this stage. There is the added concern that unless I get further westwards, next week sees the eastern half of the Atlantic affected by variable light winds, which I cannot afford to get trapped in.

So I’ve made the tough decision to make best speed west, which will mean dropping further south away from the Tropic. I am deeply saddened not to have been able to spend more time sailing along it, but as I’ve stated before, few plans survive contact with reality. As one fine American gentleman once said to me: ‘it ain’t no Hollywood movie, dude’! I’m still uncertain what he meant, given the context in which it was said, but it works fine in this case!!!

Haskap JUICE

Other harsh realities came to light this morning when I found that the remainder of my fresh oranges are no longer fresh!! So I’ve eaten the last fresh fruit onboard!! Despite the hopes of a very good friend of mine and his kids (who shall remain anonymous) that this will see the immediate onset of scurvy and see my diet reduced to weevils and drinking my own urine, they will be disappointed!! I’m still munching through my daily ration of haskapa juice and dried haskap berries, so I’ve plenty of fruity foodstuffs left!!!

 

The white spinnaker has faced some harsh reality too! It was put in the naughty corner for a while, which seemed to work, as it behaved impeccably on the last two occasions it was used!!

The managing of harsh realities is in part what the Sobell House Caring for The Carer Project which is being supported by the fundraising from Tropic4Cancer is all about. The aim of the project is to develop a range of tailored support and training to help the family and friends care for their loved one. The path of any illness, especially a terminal illness, is not a linear one. Things change and develop at rates that are often far different to expectations. This means that the patient and their carers are having to respond to changing circumstances, and anything that can help manage this dynamic situation will be useful.

The Project will not cure cancer, but it may make the impact of the harsh realities of a terminal illness more bearable for both patient and carers by ensuring that everyone feels that they did everything that they could. There are full details of the project can be found by clicking on this link; http://www.sobellhospicecharity.org.uk/node/522

Sobell House is an amazing place, and quite different to how I expected a hospice to be like. It is a positive environment, and much more about living than dying. The whole team there are incredible, and are caring and supportive in hugely difficult circumstances for all involved. I will always be grateful for everything they did for us as a family.

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Today’s “thank you” goes to; Jenny Watts, K Allen, Jenny White, Dave Peach & Family and Iain Morrison. Thank you all so much for your very kind donations!