This week was very busy: we sailed up the Seine to Rouen where we joined a big tall ship event. It was very busy and crowdy. This event takes place in Rouen every couple of years it is called The Armada of Rouen.
The entrance of the river SeineArrival in RouenA huge international event with the American Eagle
I was so lucky to meet up with my parents that drove all the way to see me and pick up a few bags of mine from another vessel.
Big fireworks at night, for the showFrench Navy Schooners Etoile and Belle Poule, sisterships from 1932, my very first tall ships
I hadn’t seen most of the other vessels since a while. Probably a year so it was very nice catching up with them.
The Bark Europa alongsideEarly morning coffee on the aft deck enjoying the view
The Seine is such a beautiful river to sail on! And the sail out parade was absolutly fantastic! France is such a beautiful country!
The Patrouille de France 🇫🇷 during the Armada de Rouen 2019The Patrouille de France flying above our heads during the sail out
After Horta we had a couple of weeks of good sailing.
We had to refamiliarize new voyage crew memebers and put the ones that stayed onboard since Cape Town in a leading position. It is always nice to see that some of the young voyage crew that have been working hard with us for the past two month are rewarded this way. Sometime, they even become volonteers for us and it is great because we have the feeling they accomplished something for themselves by joining the ship.
Happy chief officer
It is for sure a life changing experience for them! Lots of learning moments and the curve goes way higher on a tall ship out at sea.
Magical colours in the clouds
The trip from Horta to Europe mainland always takes a pprox 10 days and is always filled with a lot more sail handling. We also start to feel the cold … the tropics are now way behind and we have to get used to it again!
Europa sailing close hold in well formed seasSunsets…
Sailing is fun!
Europa at anchor near the isle of Wight
We are heading to Rouen in France where i am looking forward to meet my parents for half a day. But before that we might sailing along the south of England looking for some shelter for the strong winds coming!
Before you say anything, I got a safetyline in my face! My lip got a crust but i look better now no need for surgery haha 😉
A happy chief officer
You can really feel it has been 7 weeks we left Cape Town. The permanent crew rocks and roll and if wake ups start getting harder with swedish watch it is also because we stay up longer in the evening to enjoy the sunset.
Evening sunsets, waiting for the magical green flash
As we have been sailing more north west, ship’s time remained on UTC as the sun’s local time kept on pushing its sunset later and later. Quite a few very special green flashes have been spotted, the hope of seeing another one -even better- or just enjoying the amazing view has kept us up enjoying eachother’s company.. Gezellig like we say in dutch!
The voyage crew has had more challenges as for most its the first time so long at sea cut from home family and friends. Boredom and different expectations made them realize getting more involved in ships’ life and accepting others as they are had quite some good advantages! Suddenly these few weeks show clearly those who are waiting just a bit too long to realize the chance they had to be on such a tall ship and should have maybe read a few less books in their cabins….
Europa sailing close hold
I find myself better and better in being very politically correct as people have chosen me to empty their fustrations to. This made me realize I must have gained quite so “listening” or “trust” skill somehow.
Deborah, our guide onboard keeps on repeating to me I have great leader skills and that when I say something it is clear and wise; that is why people come to me; do not ask me where that comes from…. because I have no idea and before being able to see the bright side, I thought more “why do they come to me?! I do not want to be involved in other peoples drama!…” they are doing better though: more deck work and sail handling… I must have said something good! 😉
Another important fact to me: This week I have taken over Klaas’s watch! Finally! Getting adjusted again to finding another balance. Wouldn’t swop my place right now! I could just find the time to finish a few deck projects during the day before being on top of out next port of call’s administration. This job is great!
S O P H I E. T H E. S A I L O R. 