Log Entry No 7 - 3rd August 08. (Discoverer)

FROM THE CAPTAINS CABIN

Wet Work.

We are in Iceland at the end of our current journey and by the time you read this I expect the crew will be back in the UK. Our crossing from Greenland to the Denmark Straight, or as the Icelanders call it The Greenland Straight was the final challenge. Heavy weather threatened for most of the passage as Hurricane Bertha and its associated weather pattern chased us from the south. In the event we escaped the worst but we did have winds of up to Force 8 across the deck. Discoverer of course responded magnificently, as did her crew, despite the return of “mal de Mere” for some unlucky members.

Sunrise over the old harbour.

Iceland, proudly independent but firmly part of the Nordic culture has a language and landscape little changed since its first settlers arrived more than 1000 years ago. It sits quite literally as a bridge between Europe and America, on our final day we walked and drove through its rugged landscape and visited amongst other things the geological fault line where the two continental plates meet. We also took in the unique Geysir, a blasting hot water spout and Gullfoss, Iceland’s most impressive water fall. Reykjavik is the world’s most northerly capital city and I can’t help but compare it with Port Stanley( The world’s most southerly?). It is a small but vibrant city with both modern convenience and distinctive Nordic appeal and on the face of it far removed from Stanley. Yet both sit in island landscapes little changed by man’s activities. The inhabitants are at one with their windswept rugged countryside and are so much more in touch with their surround and nature than us. Here they take for granted and live with what we have sought to find and feel privileged to have experienced. In Iceland we have experiencing yet another culture and landscape to add to our already diverse and extensive experience.

Reykjavik town scene.

As the crew prepare to fly home, it is fitting that they conclude their final log. They have achieved much. A month ago none had sailed, yet alone made an ocean passage described by our skipper Bob Briggs as “the hardest he has done for a long time”. Beyond sailing they have gained much, none had visited North America, let alone Greenland. They have experienced conditions and met people most of only dream of and their lives have been enriched. They return home as more confident soldiers and people, better equipped to face their future military and civilian lives. I firmly believe that they will view life from a new perspective with broader more challenging horizons; above all they have a new found confidence in their own ability.

Mums, Dads (and basic training staff) can all be proud of them.

Richard Pattison
Expedition Leader

A watch leader writes - A FAIR WIND AND A FOLLOWING SEA

Graysir building.

Graysir letting off steam.

Well, we didn’t always have a fair wind and the sea often came at us from the beam, causing several extended periods of wide-spread sea-sickness. However, every individual, from skipper through mates and watch leaders, to the youngest novice sailor, all agree that the trip has been a real challenge and all have learnt a great deal. The truism of adventurous training, of course, is that the greatest lessons are always learnt about oneself – the activity (in this case, sailing) is merely a vehicle. So it has been over the past month: many have delved deeper than ever before to discover reserves of courage and the mental capacity to deal with the idiosyncrasies of others as well as the physical challenges we have described in earlier posts. Living in extremely close proximity with 14 other persons, with no contact with any other English-speakers, for nearly 3 weeks during the final phase has tested the ability of all to get along regardless of provocation, challenge or set back.

The sailing has ranged from monotonous (in the fog early on) to exhilarating (up to Force 8 as we left Greenland) and included all points of sail from beating to wind all the way round to goose-winging for a couple of hours on the approach to Halifax, as well as a couple of periods of motoring when the wind was totally absent. We have travelled almost 3000 miles, visited four countries and provided a focal point for a constant stream of curious visitors on pontoons in eight different ports. At anchor and alongside, we have fended off ice-bergs and at sea, we have sailed around them, the activity which most caused the skipper’s blood pressure to rise (and standard of English to fall dramatically).

For some this will be the only sailing they ever endure and for others it will be a significant notch in their nascent or developing sailing careers, but for all, the memories of challenging experiences at sea and fascinating, beautiful landscapes in northern latitudes will remain part of their personal make up for many years to come.

And hopefully we’ve developed as leaders as well!

Fiona Galbraith
Red Watch Leader

FINALLY BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY FROM THE FOREDECK

“I do believe that I have come on in leaps and bounds with life skills and I also think my confidence has grown. I have made some good friends and have enjoyed the majority of the journey.”

Pte Mike West, who celebrated his 17th birthday mid passage.

“I cannot explain in words how privileged and lucky I feel to be part of and to have completed part of this expedition. Through hard times and once in a life time the expedition would not be possible if it had not been for a number of people. I can not thank them enough for the life experience I have gained and achieved due to all they have done.”

Spr Craig Taber

And that is what it is all about.