BY A CREW MEMBER.
Why do so many people have this Atlantic crossing on their bucket list? Is it because it sounds impressive to tell people you’re sailing across the ocean?
Did you actually want to walk the Camino but thought sailing might be less exhausting while still giving deep inner insight? With the bonus that you don’t have to worry about your own sleeping place, food, or drinks?
Or is it simply because you love sailing?
Each of us had our own thoughts and motives when we signed on two weeks ago in Sint Maarten to board the Eendracht. The final destination is the Azores, but how does this personal journey go? Which course and end goal does the compass show? Or should we ask the stars?
Anyway, each of us has our story. And that’s what makes this journey on the Eendracht so interesting. I’ve decided to fully surrender to the rhythm of the ship, the wind, the waves, and the (blue) watch of the day. Wait a minute, did I just write ‘surrender’? Me, an ever-controlling person from Amersfoort who likes things to go the way I envision them? There you have the secret of the Eendracht. Surrender… total surrender and no longer (too much) overthinking.
Or, maybe we’re taking this trip to experience (for the older ones again or for the younger ones for the first time) what it’s like to live without a phone, without TV, and without world news. Just like ‘back in the day’ when you went hiking in France or Italy. You were ‘out of the world’. Back then, that required little. Now you need to cross the Atlantic Ocean to truly disconnect.
But disconnecting is also reconnecting. For everything you let go, something new comes (just see where the fresh ocean wind in your mind takes you…). Connection on the Eendracht comes from listening and being curious about the stories of fellow sailors, and also being able to share your own story. How wonderful is that? There is time and attention for it.
And all of that happens between sailing. Because that’s what we do. We sail! It goes on 24/7. Even if we can’t sail for short periods, we motor on. Someone is always at the helm, together with the helmsman. The sails must be hoisted or lowered… it goes on and on. Sailing is intense and consumes you completely. It is physically exhausting but also exhilarating! When we finally reach the Azores and this journey is completed, I’ll think… what could be difficult compared to ‘mastering’ the Atlantic Ocean?
The fascination and admiration I already had for the old sailors grows even more as we help helmsmen Wouter, Bert, and Leo (aka Jos) with weather observation. We watch the stars, sun, waves, clouds, and measure temperature. They also teach us to keep the helm straight. That’s how it has always been, and how it still is, despite all modern equipment.
Our captain regularly gives us updates about the course and weather and remains ‘ever optimistic’.
The boatsmen Stefan and Rutger (who also have a huge playlist of very cheesy music), have arms like cables and eyes everywhere. They patiently teach us which lines to handle and what to do. We strap ourselves to the boom as if it’s nothing…
Our own quartermasters Hans, Janine, Nicole, and Peter (also the main initiator of the onboard conga) continue to guide us with tireless patience.
Valuable tips on ‘how to survive in a submarine’ are given by engineer Bert: ‘especially don’t pee overboard, that won’t make you friends…’
Our doctor Caroline observes us daily and has meanwhile joined the kitchen brigade as pastry chef. Yes, our kitchen brigade with chef Yvonne and bitterball- and French toast king Peter. With pans tied down and sliding through the kitchen, they take more than good care of us. AMAZING!
As if force 8 winds weren’t enough, we also played a murder mystery game. By now almost everyone has been ‘killed’, including our captain, who remains ‘ever optimistic’ about it.
Yesterday we were ‘halfway across’. And that was celebrated extensively on the bridge. In lovely sunshine, in swimwear, with Rutger’s cheesy music and bitterballs!!!!
But ‘halfway across’ also means ‘almost home’… Too bad our captain is ‘murdered’, otherwise I would have asked him to put the Eendracht ‘in reverse’.
Fokje Das
March 3, 2023
From the Atlantic Ocean on the Eendracht