England To Netherlands, May 2002
We wish we’d kept a log of this trip, since this was the first time Mike, Marcus and Jamie had ever been sailing. Actually, Mike had done some sailing in the sea scouts but since this was over fourty years ago this trip was a great refresher course!
This trip was an organised RYA Competent Crew five day event, heading over from Shotley marina on the south east coast of England to the southern waterways of the Netherlands. Here is Marcus’ brief synopsis of the trip:
Previous Experience: Boating on the Norfolk Broads!
Worst Experience of the trip: Day Journey from England thinking what the hell have I got myself into as half of the North Sea pours down my mouth.
Best Experience of the trip: Night Journey back to England, steering the boat for four hours in a Force 6.
Weirdest Experience of the trip: Hearing ghost pirates chant “Heave” in the middle of the ocean and the rotting face that entered my imagination after I took my first sea sickness pill…trippy!!!
What I took away from it all: Being at one with the waves. But waves still scare me and always will. I think you call it “a love hate relationship”!
We think Marcus learned the most important lesson in sailing: respect the sea.
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