Why??

A recurring question people ask me is why....!? Just why? In many ways the most difficult question to answer, but in many ways the easiest. I could give a brief sketch of my sailing life thus far, the stand out moments being sailing old wooden sailing craft around different parts of the world. Grandgousier, a 1931 French oyster boat through the med and home with my father, then up to Greenland and back visiting Eric the Reds house. Voluta, a 1900 English yacht home from Rhodes pumping constantly all the way, with as much water coming through the deck as through the hull....you get the picture. I could go on, but the theme here is really that I get interested when the boat has a history, some character, something no modern plastic yacht can give, although I think these boats serve their purpose just fine for those who wish to go to sea in them, I could personally think of nothing more dull. Now when I think of the Anne Marie trip, and I think it is possibly my biggest undertaking to date, the crew are of utmost importance. Strangely enough, sailing skill is not at the top of my list when I am thinking of attributes a crew should have, although it obviously helps. More a strength of character to knuckle down when things get tough, a willingness to pitch in in adverse circumstances, as well as being calm in an emergency and resilience to keep going when pushed to the limit.