It was nice to have a daylight arrival for a change!
Team Skyelark crossed the finish line at around 7 am local time - we had boats
in sight ahead and behind and the last evening at sea was spent trying to
improve and maintain our position. There was some suspicion amongst the crew
that Kitty was letting out sail to speed up, and Steve was sailing extra miles
in order to sway the arrival time for our ETA competition - the coveted prize
helming Skyelark across the finish
line.
The winner was Kitty whose estimate came within a record
breaking 15 mins! We crossed the line in fine style, slightly overpowered with all sails
blazing, a fridge full of cold beers and a frittata in the oven. Smiles all
around, and a great sense of
achievement as we were welcomed into the marina and handed the rum punch - which
definitely gets the party going despite the early hours.
As
beers were served with breakfast, and hotels were booked, conversation returned
to the highlights and low lights of the trip. Bruises on bruises, wet bottoms
and rainy watches, movements, noises and only 6 hours of sleep, strange dreams,
short showers and missing home. Whales, dolphins (by night in bioluminescence),
exhilarating sailing, night skies and the changing seascapes, great food and
pleasant company, challenges met and dealt with, friendships made and more
adventures to come. Everyone had their reasons for being on
board, and everyone left with a smile and a slight swaying - whether it was the rum punch was hard to
tell.
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