IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME...
Well, what can I say?
Sorry for the long time between writing. If I have not been in touch with you since… A long time, this is the story.
I Resigned from Timoneer after 4 years and 11 months onboard, and clocking up nearly 64,000 nautical miles. Came home to NZ for 3 months, of holidaying, studying and spending. I left for the UK (March 2008) to sit my Officer of the Watch exam in Liverpool. Stressed and sweated like never before for an hour and half of only verbal answers to all the rules of the road at sea.
Passed, had a few pints, as you do. Then went off down to the South of France for a break with some friends. Enjoyed yet another course there, for engineering (a lot more beer drunk at this one!).
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Hopped on a plane and flew to Tortola in the US Virgin Islands to join Adele (180foot Sailing Ketch) as temp Bosun.
Back on the water again and sailing northwards to the USA into Fort Lauderdale. My 3 months stretched into 4, with an owner who liked to be onboard a lot. We traveled from the Bahamas to Newport, Rode Island, with stops in between of course. Fourth of July in Long Island sound and some flying visits to down town New York on the owner’s motor yacht, Seawalker.
In Newport, things changed for the good. There was a need for a captain onboard Seawalker, and I was offered the job. A great step in the right direction!
More responsibility and a Captain (of a small boat that is).
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Placed the boat on a ship to Sardinia in the Med. I took a few days off, before joining a flight across.
Met the boat with my crew member from NZ, we then spent the late summer in the Med with
the owner living on Adele, and hoping between beaches and marinas with me.
From Valencia in Spain to Santorini in Greece. That was the summer, with breaks from the owner of a few weeks on the bigger seas to cross.
+copy.jpg)
The winter storms were coming thick and fast in late October when we were released from the owner. It took 16 days to get back to Palma, Mallorca. It is only 1000 miles away, and would have taken just over 2 days in good weather. Having to turn back crossing the Ionian Sea, between Greece and Italy was hard. I thought we would never get there. Picking weather windows and running hard before the next storm would blow in. Spent my 30th birthday at sea,
but made up for it with a much needed weekend full of partying upon arrival.
Placed Seawalker on another ship and she came back across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale. I picked her up, then into the yard for a not so brief haul out and repair. I came back to NZ to see the family and some friends, 10days is never long enough!
+copy.jpg)
Now I’m sitting in Fort Lauderdale, working to get the boat ready for a trip down through Central America to Panama, from there I do not know…
Once again, sorry for not keeping in touch over the past long while. Hope all is well and life is good.
Bevan :)
Well, what can I say?
Sorry for the long time between writing. If I have not been in touch with you since… A long time, this is the story.
I Resigned from Timoneer after 4 years and 11 months onboard, and clocking up nearly 64,000 nautical miles. Came home to NZ for 3 months, of holidaying, studying and spending. I left for the UK (March 2008) to sit my Officer of the Watch exam in Liverpool. Stressed and sweated like never before for an hour and half of only verbal answers to all the rules of the road at sea.
Passed, had a few pints, as you do. Then went off down to the South of France for a break with some friends. Enjoyed yet another course there, for engineering (a lot more beer drunk at this one!).
+email.jpg)
Hopped on a plane and flew to Tortola in the US Virgin Islands to join Adele (180foot Sailing Ketch) as temp Bosun.
Back on the water again and sailing northwards to the USA into Fort Lauderdale. My 3 months stretched into 4, with an owner who liked to be onboard a lot. We traveled from the Bahamas to Newport, Rode Island, with stops in between of course. Fourth of July in Long Island sound and some flying visits to down town New York on the owner’s motor yacht, Seawalker.
In Newport, things changed for the good. There was a need for a captain onboard Seawalker, and I was offered the job. A great step in the right direction!
More responsibility and a Captain (of a small boat that is).
+copy.jpg)
Placed the boat on a ship to Sardinia in the Med. I took a few days off, before joining a flight across.
Met the boat with my crew member from NZ, we then spent the late summer in the Med with
the owner living on Adele, and hoping between beaches and marinas with me.
From Valencia in Spain to Santorini in Greece. That was the summer, with breaks from the owner of a few weeks on the bigger seas to cross.
+copy.jpg)
The winter storms were coming thick and fast in late October when we were released from the owner. It took 16 days to get back to Palma, Mallorca. It is only 1000 miles away, and would have taken just over 2 days in good weather. Having to turn back crossing the Ionian Sea, between Greece and Italy was hard. I thought we would never get there. Picking weather windows and running hard before the next storm would blow in. Spent my 30th birthday at sea,
but made up for it with a much needed weekend full of partying upon arrival.
Placed Seawalker on another ship and she came back across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale. I picked her up, then into the yard for a not so brief haul out and repair. I came back to NZ to see the family and some friends, 10days is never long enough!
+copy.jpg)
Now I’m sitting in Fort Lauderdale, working to get the boat ready for a trip down through Central America to Panama, from there I do not know…
Once again, sorry for not keeping in touch over the past long while. Hope all is well and life is good.
Bevan :)
posted by Traveling Bev at 4:48 PM
3 comments
