atlantic crossing # 2

Atlantic crossing 2.0 it took us 16 days I think from leaving Cape Verde to our anchorage outside beautiful Bridgetown Barbados. The sail was great the start it we had relatively no wind AT ALL and we had a swim call off the coast of an island on Cape Verde. The water was amazingly clear you could see everything so so beautiful. The wind picked up the next day and we started our true crossing. Final exams were approaching fast and everyone was getting nervous we started 24 hour quiet hour in the banjer so people could study. Exams all went well for me with English being my highest score. The was the first sail I hadn’t been sick on so touch wood I’m done with that now thank goodness! We also had a snow day so all the student crew got school off and only daytime watch a nice break. The days started to pass and everyone new Barbados was getting ever closer. The wind shifted a few times which we had to alter course for so we didn’t manage to go straight across a few detours to keep our speed made good up. We got to Barbados early and had Christmas at anchor. We had two Christmases one on the 24^th for the Norwegian and Danish crew who celebrate on the 24^th and one for the rest of us who celebrate on the 25^th. Our first Christmas dinner was sheep with potatoes and vegetables and second roast beef with potatoes and vegetables. Both very good meals and plenty to go around. We had a make shift service on fore deck and we sang hymns and carols. On the night of the 25^th we had gift giving after dinner everyone had a secret santa aboard and we all made something for each other. I made and AB an iPhone case with a decal of his favorite tattoo that he designed on the back of it and he made me a tiny model of a Scottish tall ship that is now moored in Hawaii called the Falls of Clyde. It was a strange Christmas for me being away from home and Mum and Dad but still very nice the crew has become my family now and it felt just the same almost. Everyone called home on the ships phone to wish a merry Christmas to their families. Throughout the time at anchor we had swim calls and we set up a rope swing too. Super fun and fast too swinging down and then up and letting go 10 or 15 feet in the air. Again the maritime crew joined in Captain being the best as he always is. We took up anchor and motored into port and we got to explore a little bit before we all went home. Everyone said their goodbyes packed and headed to the airport anxious to get home and see family and get a good rest.     

Cape Verde

Cape Verde was our last port on the eastern shores of the Atlantic we managed to dock under full sail with no help from the engine the engine was only used for the powered winches aboard which pulled us onto dock there was quite a strong onshore breeze which was pushing the ship away from the dock. We eventually got in and safely moored. Cape Verde had a beautiful new and very large port I guess it’s the last stop before crossing the Atlantic three cruise ship came and left during our stay which was only 4 days. Priai the capital was separated into two parts the main plateau where all the shops were and the residential and business level below. We took taxis everyday into town because the walk was too far. Too much wasted time, which is essential in ports. The Island was very nice full of lush greenery but still dessert like from my perspective like Africa it wasn’t like the normal tropical humid atmosphere that you find in the Caribbean Islands still quite a dry heat. Our port program was a crew barbeque on the beach. We launched the tenders and loaded up everyone and went to a beach slightly down the coast anchored and then all swam into shore. We made sand art, played soccer, through a Frisbee around, body surfed and snorkeled. Most of the maritime crew attended the Captain, First Mate, Bosun, Cook, an AB, and an OS all came with us. We stayed there until sundown and took the tenders back at dusk. The next day we had an all crew meeting to wrap up our semester together some of us were leaving in Barbados and this was our last port before they left. Everyone shared an accomplishment that they had made during the year so far and shared something they wanted to leave behind on that side of the Atlantic. After the meeting we took up mooring lines and set sail for Barbados again we managed with no engine, then we sailed straight off the dock. 

senegal

Our stay in Senegal was the longest port of our journey so far. Partly because of everything we were doing. We arrived in Senegal and were moored in a shipping dock just minutes away from the center of Dakar. Curfew was different in this port we were only allowed out until 6 pm because of “safety concerns” in actual fact Dakar was just as safe as any other city in the world as long as you don’t go into the sketchy parts. Dakar is the most foreign place I think I will ever go in my entire life. The streets are moving with people and everyone is trying to sell you something. You can buy pretty much anything in Dakar I think fake headphone fake Ray Banns or “Ray Panns” fake watches, shoes, cologne, phones, computers anything you can think of. Dakar has this massive market in the middle of town which has all of these goodies. It also has car parts; boy do they have car parts. Crate engines, alternators, starters, fuel pumps, fan belts shrouds, hoses, belts, car panels, front bumpers, lights anything and everything you need. All of these parts originate from developed countries and once the cars are worn out there they get shipped to developing nations like Senegal and get used for another 20 to 30 years. The taxis are crazy there hundreds of them they seem to be everywhere and they have no meters so you have to negotiate a price BEFORE you get in. The seats are the comfiest seats ive evr sat on I think that’s because of the thousands of people that have sat in them. I was surprised though when I got there I didn’t expect it to be as developed as it actually was. They had extremely good grocery stores a fantastic bakery, electronic stores, BMW garages. All things I wasn’t really expecting.

            We spent two days at our homestays in Senegal I was partnered with Johan a boy from Switzerland. English isn’t his first language but he spoke French fluently, which is the main language in Senegal apart from the native language of Wolof. Without him the homestays wouldn’t have been as enjoyable because of the language barrier between our homestays family and us. We were staying about half an hours taxi ride away from the boat slightly out of Dakar. The house was 4 stories including a roof terrace. We were on the ground floor along with our homestays immediate family. The house had all the amenities running water and electricity I was surprised how ‘modern’ the house was and how much they had this family I think was doing fairly well. There were things about the house, which were very different from home the kitchen was very primitive and dirty also and there was no sit down toilet. It was a squat toilet with a shower overtop also there was no toilet paper luckily we both brought our own.  The house was situated in a very crowded neighborhood. The streets were sand and there was a communal garbage burning pile right across the street.  We learned a lot about how Muslim Senegalese families interact with each other when greeting the women of a household you hold their right hand with both of yours. Everyone eats together, a large circular dish is placed on a carpet on the floor and everyone sits around it and eats a section. Different vegetables and one type of meat usually fish or chicken is placed in the middle. While eating it is good etiquette to share your vegetable with the people around you the meat is divided equally between the whole family. Its traditional to eat with your hands and the only other utensil is a spoon so ripping off a piece of chicken for yourself isn’t the easiest. The women who cooked the food ripped it all apart for everyone, in our experience.  By the time we were about to depart I was ready to leave Senegal and Africa in general being away from home is difficult in its own ways but then  adding in a foreign developing nation that is extremely different from what you are used to puts it to a new extreme. Being on the ship helped with keeping the sanity I don’t think I could have gone there just staying in a hotel. None the less I enjoyed my time there and had many great experiences.   

canary's

Canary Islands

It seems like its been so long since we were in the canary's I heard today that its has been 100 days since we left Collingwood and there is only 30 days or so until we all fly home for 10 days. I'm quite excited for that it will be a nice break from the people and the ship. one which we all need. also a time to catch up with friends and family. and sleep.... :P we came into the canary islands near a commercial grain trading dock there was a massive grain holding facility right next to our ship. Docking took a while due to winds and a tight docking space. We soon got shore leave after though.
 While in the Canary's we got the ships entire air conditioning ripped out and replaced. This was quite a task every pipe that deals with the air conditioning of the ship was removed and replaced with newer better material. We were all out on shore leave while it was happening so we didn't see much of the work. Shore leave in the Canary's wasn't very special it was just the same as spain and portugal.
The most interesting thing on our stay in the Canary Islands was seeing the Cristian Roddick the sister ship to the Sorlandet. Cristian Roddick was beautiful absolutely amazing. Each year the crew spends a month in Las Palmas to due maintenance on the ship so varnishing, painting, and fixing anything that needs done. being on Sorlandet and seeing what the sea does to her and  then seeing the Cristian Roddick I don't really understand what they do to her for an entire month I guess they can always find things to do though.
Although Cristian Roddick is beautiful and great and pretty much perfect in every way. It has been changed a lot over the years where Sorlandet has been preserved due to funding issues and then the realization of Norway that they should keep it original like it was in the 30s.
Our port program for the Canary's was a hike up a gorge. I was surprised at the level of danger the hike had. If anyone had fallen it wouldn't have been good. the was also an optional port program which was learning how to surf.
I opted out of doing tit and went paragliding instead which I think was way better. there was quite al lot of wind and the pilots were able to spin really fast and do flips it was a hell of a lot of fun.
That pretty much concludes the port. The men still weren't finished installing the new system so we went back tho school in an stayed at dock then left at 10 at night or something the next day.

Cadiz