Getting ready for sea !!

 

Getting ready for sailing; on our way to Singapore         January 2013

The story will be about the sailing adventure of Charlotte & Billy. For the people who don’t know; my last sailing adventure was in 2008, the Pacific Challenge. A  Tall Ship event sailing and racing the West coast of the States on the brigantine KAISEI. That is where I met Billy and we are together ever since. Two romantic sailing soles, stuck ashore for the last 4 years. By the way for several very good reasons and not with any regret. But it is time to cast off the lines.

                                                          You  cannot discover new oceans

                                                          Unless you have the courage

                                                          to loose sight of the shore

Preparations for a 9 month sailing adventure are a little hilarious. First we had to find a sailing boat who would both employ us. Till Christmas we didn't had a clue which sailing vessel this would be and where. It should be somewhere between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean.

We created our travel name: " In the wake of Abel Tasman " . If we only could sail in his wake, it would be fantastic. We got a positive reaction on our job application for the Royal Albatross in Singapore, so destination clear and time for action.

Invite all your friends for " beers & bitterballen" in café Gruter to say goodbye and create enough friend who will follow your blog. 

 

Café  Gruter with Charlotte, Humbert, Henry & Billy

Sort out flights and accommodation to Singapore, get VISA, medical seaman's check, vaccinations and decide what to bring with you on the sailing adventure (my goodness as a sailor you can never travel light !!!) and what to pack for storage.

52  boxes  with personal stuff

FranZ  and  Billy

Rent out the apartment and invite Frans our caretaker, world traveller himself, to look after our business while we are away.

 

	Then in the end it is time to leave. Wave at Schiphol and just be timeless and country less till we are in Singapore.

 

  

Arrival in Singapore and after 18 hours travelling and going straight in our job interview with our potential captain and owner. First step was to make a good impression and get the invitation to see the boat the day after. My goodness what a questions when you are jetlagged, not showered and just realizing that the sailing adventure has started. All good, we past test nr 1.

We are applying for the job of First Mate for me and Billy as engineer/deckhand.

Day 2: see the boat and we are flabbergasted ! Again more questions and even sailing cases to solve. I can't remember that I ever did a 1,5 day job interview.

Royal Albatross, 4 masted barquentine

  

  But we made it !!!!!!!  We got the job. Starting in the beginning of March because there is still a lot of work to do to finish the refit. Billy and I are really happy and to be honest , who ever in the world has done a job interview with your husband !?

 

So it is time for celebration drinks. Singapore here we come ! Singapore sling on the roof top terrace of restaurant Orgo.

We will hang out a few day's in Singapore to get the feel for Asia.

In couple of days we will fly to Bali for sun, sea and diving.

Ahoy, Charlotte