Departure Auckland

31 October 2013

Tuesday the 29th is the day; the crew and trainees are all on board for the next leg. And what a leg! Seven weeks out at sea, round Cape Horn to the Falkland Islands. After a short welcome, a light dinner and safety instructions it is time for everyone to go to their cabin to settle in a bit.
On Wednesday we have a joint meet and greet with the trainees of the ‘Tecla’, ‘Europa’ and ‘Oosterschelde’. In the afternoon there is time to go look around Auckland or to buy some extra clothes after seeing a part of the video ‘Around Cape Horn’.
For our last evening the ‘Picton Castle’ organised a farewell party. The crew and trainees of the three Dutch Tall Ships together, it was a great night!
Thursday the 31st of October 2013 10:30AM, ‘Oosterschelde’ and ‘Europa’ depart. ‘Tecla’ has to wait for a few spare parts and will leave as soon as everything is on board. The weather is great and there is a nice breeze. Ideal to wave back at the people on the quayside who are there to wave us goodbye.
Later that afternoon the sky darkens and the wind is increasing, the voyage has really started.