In La Linea (Gibraltar) Patrick joined me the same evening. Patrick is an ex-Clipper Race skipper and sailed around the workd at least twice. By the way: the Clipper Race is not on those wooden boats that most Dutchies think about with a Clipper. You can compare the yachts with the Volvo Ocean Race ‘machines’ but a bit stronger built (Clipper Round The World Race).
Back to Patrick, it was such a delight to have him onboard! I never slept better off watch, loved the fact we had 2 safety turns around the winches all the time and without asking he was simply clipped on when I came on deck. The safety briefing was also done and dusted in half an hour! We decided that if any one goes overboard, that person should swim ashore and the other would continue. Either one of us could bring Shaman to Lisbon solo..
The trip itself was quite uneventful. Apart from the staying in the <20m contourline to avoid orcas and we obviously still had the wind on the nose (18-24 knots), aswell as the waves (1-2.3m), but nothing we AND Shaman couldn’t handle. At the same time we were treated with the most beautiful sunset & rises.. And.. I got pancakes!!!
Patrick left upon arrival and I arranged for a diesel tank clean in Lisbon because the boat had been in the La Rapita marina for 5 years without being used. I wanted to make sure all is well before crossing the Bay of Biscay and entering the English Channel.
It was quite an eventful stay: the seals of the tanks were rubber and completely desintegrated. When I pulled up the centerboard, yes you read this correctly: Shaman has a centerboard, not a keel, it got stuck and the she needed to be lifted out of the water. It appeard she is more of an ‘angle’ board than a dead center board. A job to add to the to-do list upon arrival in the Netherlands.
Next day the owner and his brother arrived and in the evening my friend and super crew Heather. She is an ex-Clipper Race crew, sailed around the world once and has been part of my delivery crew for 2 years now.. Like with Patrick, with her on watch, I can sleep.. She is amazing to work with!
And to be fair, the “Clipper way” has definately played a role into me becoming the (safety conscious) skipper that I am today..
Ultimately we left for A Coruña 3 days later than planned.. Just at the edge of the last weather window for a while. Lets go sailing!! Uh… motoring…
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