Song of the Whale - Queen’s Ransom’s Transatlantic crossing in support of whales
Queen’s Ransom III is a Najad 520 from Gosport, UK, crossing the Atlantic in 2009
arrival: port: departure:
  
 Santa Cruz, Tenerife, Islas Canarias, Espagna 29/11/2009
05/12/2009 Mindelo, São Vicente, Arquipélago de Cabo Verde 06/12/2009
20/12/2009 Bridgetown, Barbados 21/12/2009
22/12/2009 St. George's, Grenada 
  
crew: Ulric Almqvist (S), Peter Hjelt (GB), Hans Piest (NL) 
these webpages are modified versions of the corresponding pages of Queen's Ransom III's original BLOG
found at: www.queens-ransom.com
Sighted Barbados!
Ulric E4
12/19/2009, 30 nautical miles East of Barbados

Finishing our supply of champagne after having sighted our goal: Barbados (Hans)

At 22.40 UTC (18.40 local time) tonight we spotted the lights of Barbados. We were some 40 miles East of the island. Hans and I were on deck; enjoying the first single malt of the trip (Highland Park). We woke up Peter for this special moment after 13 days at sea since Cape Verde and 3,050 nautical miles since Tenerife. Not surprisingly; it was a magical point of the journey! We were about to achieve what we had set out to do. We could see land after 13 days of just sea everywhere and not another soul than ourselves.

First of all, I want to stress my greatest appreciation of and thank you to everybody at home that have made this trip possilble through their generosity, support and sacrifice; in my case Imelda, the children and my mother. You have had to carry heavy burden at home while we have been fulfilling our dreams, as well as dealing with some worry. I also would like to thank my crew for a fantastic time together and making this trip not only possible, but also highly enjoyable. You have been very dedicated and always tried to resolve any problem in a positive spitrit as a team. Your cool headedness, the times we have been confronting any problems have been a crucial component to resolve the inevitable tough moments of this trip,

We are apporaching Barbados slowly; doing 5-6 knots in 11-13 knots of wind from behind; much less than forecast.This sets the mood of the trip; not always power reaching at high speeds, but slowly and purposefully getting to our goal. More and more lights ashore are visible. We will have to gybe to clear the Southern extremity of the island. We will then pass St Lawrence (where Imelda and I stayed in Kjell's Guest House on holiday in January 1997) before rounding Dodham Point and sailing into Carlisle Bay; our anchorage off Bridgetown.

We hoisted the Barbadian flag in our cross trees, as well as the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club's burgee at the top of the mast earlier tonight. The second bottle of champagne was uncorked. We are ready to arrive!
 
  Don't be shy ... surf on !!
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