Monday morning 8am I am leaving for the Atlantic crossing Bermuda – Horta. The last week I have been in Bermuda doing preperations and truth to be told: It has been crazy!

I have been talking to a family (husband, wife, 2 kids (11&8) to join them during the crossing because the husband has a heart condition. They really wanted me as a back up in case anything would happen to him.

During their trip from Puerto Rico to Bermuda though he got a heart rythm problem and eventhough his pacemaker solved it, his cardiologist in both Bermuda & Holland told him it was too risky to do a crossing now. He isn’t even allowed to drive a car for 3 months!

So, here I am: The conversation about joining them rapidly changed into “Do you want to deliver our boat PHI back as the Skipper”. All of a sudden the last 6 days I was looking for crew, had to look at their boat in a completely different way and got so many instructions that my head is spinning.

This afternoon the family is flying back to the Netherlands and my first crew Geraint from Ireland (whom I know from Antigua) is flying in tonight. The second crew Bev from Atlanta (GA) (who found me after a facebook post) is flying in Sunday at noon.

Both are experienced sailors and Bev even enjoys spending time in the galley! I am stocked they are joining me.

But first I have to say goodbye to the family whom I have grown to love almost as my own. All excitement aside it is very sad that their journey stops here. They took the kids one year out of school to sail from The Netherlands to Las Palmas to the Caribbean and back, but in a couple of hours they are getting on a plane..

An unexpected goodbye and I am going to miss them.

Truth the be told it is also nice to have PHI for a couple of hours to myself. To have a good look at things in my own time and if any additinal questions arrise I can still call for advice until Sunday.

Monday morning at 8am Geraint, Bev and I are going to leave the docks of st George (what’s in a name) and head for Horta, which will take us about 15 days. Down there we will have 2-3 days to clean, do goceries and prepare for the next leg, after which we are heading for Falmouth (UK). This will take us another 10 to 11 days I think. All weather permitting ofcourse.

Please stay tuned because in a little over 2 weeks I will post a new blog about how the first leg went. We are hoping for fair winds, moderate sea state and loads of fresh fish!

After 4 months on this beautiful island it is now time to move on. Or actually, move back. Today I am flying to New York where I will spend 24 hours (window) shopping. Tomorrow I will fly to Bermuda and prepare for my second Atlantic crossing in 6 months. I am looking forward to it.

Antigua has been good to me. When I arrived I didn’t know anybody and look at me now. My network is huge and I have a liver that can attest to that. To find a boat, to meet people, to set up regattas and deliveries.. everything starts in the bar with a rum, gin and/or beer in your hand. I don’t think I have ever been on drinking spree this long. And I have a couple of shorts to prove that yes, alcohol makes you fat.

But it was worth it. I passed my Yachtmaster Offshore and have now all abbreviations necessary behind my name. I sailed every possible regatta, used a minimum amount of flights to go to and from the different islands and made some really good friends that will last me a life time.

The last 2 weeks I was in charge of an Italian Cookson 50 which I sailed with 3 guys from St Barths to Antigua. Then they left and I actually got paid to check on the boat on a daily basis. A couple of days ago the original skipper came back and yes, it was hard work to clean the hull under water, to prepare it for shipment, to reassemble the cradle at the cargo vessel and to deal with all the bureaucratics imaginable. But it was educational and thus a great experience.

Furthermore I got to sail the Antigua Sailing Week on a boat of which the owner told me after the regatta that he really wanted to pay me. He loved my experience, input and coaching during the races and he already made me commit to coming back onboard in the Med.

It is not the first time this happened so most of the boats I sailed on will team up with me again. I cannot imagine a bigger compliment.

When I crossed the Atlantic in November I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Now I know and it exceeded every expectation. I left my business life and sold my house to give myself some space. To find new happiness after losing my son George*.

And eventhough I am living my plan B, it is the best Plan B I could have ever chosen.

I am proud to say that I am officially a professional sailor. I am being paid to do what I love most. All of a sudden I understand how it feels when people say: I never feel like working because my job is my passion.

Right now that is me.

If you wonder about my wish list? The next couple of months I am going to (try to) find a boat to sail the Fastnet, Middle Sea Race and Sydney Hobart, to name a few..

I am allowing myself to dream big.