Oceans of Hope enjoys perfect North Sea conditions
The bright orange livery of Oceans of Hope will blend in with the sea of orange flags and bunting adorning the football-mad Netherlands when she arrives in the port of Ijmuiden tonight. The 20-metre yacht is en route to Amsterdam and is due to arrive at Amsterdam Marina tomorrow evening.
After passing through the Kiel Canal, they have been sailing in the North Sea which has been mercifully benign in a light summer breeze.
Skipper Kristian Bo Echwald Hansen reports, “We have been under way for more than 26 hours, which is our longest stretch so far. We have had both great sailing weather with clear skies and lots of wind, as well as minimal wind and more sun.”
He adds, “Right now we are three hours out of Ijmuiden where we plan to spend the night before we go through the locks to Amsterdam with no stress tomorrow. The crew is in good shape despite some seasickness in the night.”
Søren Rønn Willesen, who will sail on board Oceans of Hope to Lisbon in Portugal, is getting used to his new “rolling” home which, even moored up, moves gently with the swell of the water below her hull.
Life at sea forces a different pace and a different way of doing things as Søren explains in his blog today.
“The physical challenge from the large swells and at times powerful seas is noticeable,” he says. “Every step and every action must be given an extra thought, consideration. I slept with my head into a corner to keep from rolling out of my bunk!”
Søren continues, “The feeling is not so much that of vacation or adventure but rather that of having switched your home for a very different daily environment. The idea has started to settle that this boat, this rolling ocean with wind and pressure, will be my home for the next few weeks. And the idea fills me with joy.”