Check, check and double check

4 December 2013

Wieger reports:
“The rounding of Cape Horn… check
Passing the Strait of Le Maire with heavy weather… check
With 50 knots of wind up to the 50th latitude… check
One hand for the ship… double check
Was this our goal, the checking of again an exceptional experience? For a trophy to put on the mantelpiece or a medal to end up in the linen cupboard?
Cape Horn is a rock with a name, a famous rock. The number of sailors that rounded this rock is relatively small, and for certain the number sailing on Dutch Tall Ships rounding the cape. It is a unique experience, and we did it, we are now one of them!
And the ‘Oosterschelde’ just sails on.
Could there be another reason for joining this trip? Adventure, the unique character of it, the caressing of our ego the checking of again an exceptional experience or possibly some spiritual reason to some up some of the possible reasons to join the trip. Are we rounding a cape in our mind, exploring sites where experiences are hidden from long times ago? Will this rounding of the cape elucidate things to us, are there small doors in our minds to be opened? The exact reason for anybody will be different, for me the unique character of this trip, the people on board, the sea, the ship and the nature surrounding us are important factors.
It is a rock with a rich history and name, sailors have been fighting for their lives and goods, there are many stories, and there is romance and suffering. A rock surrounded by rough seas, where the weather can change from quiet to very rough in just 10 minutes.
For us the trip surely was not a luxury one, but suffering was not really part of it (thanks to our permanent crew!). What has been very important for me and what was a possible obstacle for this voyage was the presence of so many unknown people on such a small surface for several weeks. Much has happened in the group; possibly little doors have been opened here. We made it, friendly, helpfully, everyone with his own thoughts and peculiarities. As civilized people we made the rounding to a success, the group managed to withstand all problems and to maintain a group successfully. If there were annoyances they were not blown up and stayed small. I didn’t notice too much of these.
Meanwhile outside there is a strong storm going on, the wind howls through the lines, the ship rolls and moves heavily, chairs move in the salon, in the cupboards everything makes noise and the dough mix is splashed against the door of our hut that is opposite the galley. The cups are subject to the process of natural selection, only the ‘earless’ mutants possibly will survive. We were not successful in avoiding the depression this time that’s for sure.
And you know that life on the ‘Oosterschelde’ will continue as usual. David sewing a back for the dinghy, Leonard concentrated behind one of his books, Kaatje writing in her blog, Marino putting too much yoghurt in his bowl, Woody appearing in a T-shirt outside in a temperature of 3 degrees C, the washing machine spitting out 3 socks of different colours and Fernando filming everything.
Meanwhile we have to be very carefully with the rocking and the rolling of the ship… check, every step taken with care, hook on… double check, an accident is there before you know it.
Meanwhile live continues on the ‘Oosterschelde’… Keeping pressure on the rudder”