Entering the English Channel

17 March 2015

Update of March 16th by Sieb Kemme: 
“At this moment we have not fifty, but two shades of grey: the grey of the sea and the grey of the air. In the meantime we entered the English Channel on horse power. No wind, flat sea, course 45 to 50 degrees, speed 3,5 knots against current and waves, 6 knots otherwise, temperature 9,5 C. We left the loneliness of the ocean behind us and see big ships passing by. Busy business here! Discussions on board concentrate on the question whether and when we will arrive in Rotterdam or Stellendam and if we will enjoy another day of sailing. At this moment there is high pressure from Scandinavia to the Azores, so there is little hope that sailing will be the case. Doing the watch we are waiting until something will happen: reading a book, listening to music, telling dirty jokes or just waiting. The ‘captains watch’ is from 8:00 until 14:00 and from 20:00 until 2:00. This is a fine watch, because you get the impression that you have a ‘normal working day’. After breakfast you go to work at 8:00. After 12:00 you can do what you like to do. And after dinner you go to work again, which is no punishment because television is of very low quality, if available, which of course is not the case.”