As the oldest and most newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis amongst the crew, it is really great to get so many new friends here on board Oceans of Hope. They have given me more answers to my disease in these eight days than I have had before. Everyone is happy and helpful, and there is a really good chemistry. Everything works - we sail, we rig, we XXXXX. People help each other, where it is needed.

When I try to think about what I don’t like about being onboard, I can’t think of anything but good things. This is a fantastic sailing experience, and having sailed all my life I can really appreciate this experience. The only thing there is wrong with this picture, is that it doesn’t last longer! Just the session of changing a main sail of almost 200kg was an experience in itself. I thought that was really special to be a part of. 

Lying yesterday in a tiny bay, with no more than 50 people around, and suddenly being in this pulsating Financial District of New York City – it is absolutely surreal! It will be interesting to see how we will be doing here while staying in New York. It is not easy getting around for guys like Kaj and myself. But we will work it out. That’s what we are here for!

It is great getting some different input from those around me … I have bloody never felt this way. I don’t know what to say. It has just been so unique. This is something different. And it is something else than sailing races back home. This is no race. This is something very special.

I hope so many others can have the same experience. As a crew member aboard Oceans of Hope you are so bonded and you interact so closely across national borders. Just look at when we met this woman back in Atlantic City, who also lives with MS. I took her down to the boat and showed her the project. We almost became friends in a mere 10 minutes, and after she had met the crew we walked together back to the hotel. Saying goodbye we both wished for the other to have a great life.

I have been this rough carpenter all my life; now I sit here with tears in my eyes. How do you explain such a feeling?

Danish Translation:

Det kan ikke forklares!

Som den ældste og nyest diagnosticerede er det rigtig dejligt at få så mange nye venner her på Oceans of Hope. De har givet mig flere svar på min sygdom de 8 dage jeg har været om bord end tiden før. Alle er glade og hjælpsomme, og der er en rigtig god kemi. Alting fungerer; vi sejler, vi rigger til, vi rigger af. Folk hjælper hinanden, hvor der er brug for det.

Når jeg tænker over hvad der er rart og hvad der ikke er godt ved at være om bord, så kan jeg ikke komme i tanke om noget, jeg ikke bryder mig om. Det er en dejlig sejleroplevelse, og nu jeg jo har sejlet hele mit liv, kan jeg virkelig værdsætte den her oplevelse. Det eneste, der er forkert ved det, er at det ikke kan vare længere! Bare det at skifte et storsejl på næsten 200kg var jo en oplevelse i sig selv. Det synes jeg var meget specielt at være en del af. At vi i går lå ude i en bugt, hvor der ikke engang har været 50 mennesker, og nu er vi herinde i det pulserende Financial District – det jo fuldstændig surrealistisk. Det sådan lidt uvirkeligt!

Det bliver jo spændende at se hvordan vi klarer os her i New York. Det er jo ikke sådan lige at fare sådan rundt for sådan nogle som mig og Kaj. Men det finder vi nok ud af. Det er det vi er her for! Det er jo fedt at få nogle helt andre input. Jeg har sgu aldrig haft det sådan før. Jeg ved ikke hvad jeg mere skal sige. Det har bare været så unikt. Det er ikke ligesom kapsejlads. Det her er jo ikke et ræs. Det her er noget helt andet. Og heller ikke ligesom at sejle rundt derhjemme i folkebåden. Det her er noget helt specielt. Jeg håber at alle andre kan få den samme oplevelse. Man er så tæt på hinanden og kommer hinanden ved på tværs af landene. Som bare da vi mødte en kvinde i Atlantic City, som også havde MS, som jeg tog med ned og viste båden. Vi blev jo nærmest venner på 10 minutter, og efter hun havde været nede og møde besætningen, fulgtes vi tilbage til hotellet. Da vi sagde farvel, sluttede vi begge med at ønske den anden skulle have et godt liv.

Jeg har været sådan en hård tømmer, og nu sidder jeg her med tårer i øjnene. Hvordan fanden skal man forklare sådan en følelse?

Report by Bosun Bertram:

NEW YORK CITY we have arrived! North Cove Marina as downtown as you can imagine on the tip of Manhattan is where the Oceans of Hope is now docked. We had a beautiful sail up and down the Hudson River this morning, passing by the Statue of Liberty and hoisting the sails with the skyline in the background. This is yet a major milestone in our circumnavigation and we are pleased to be in the big apple for the week. The crew will have a chance to look around the city, when they are not taking part in receptions at either the Manhattan Yacht Club or the New York Yacht Club who are both hosting us for our stopover. 

Finally we're here! 

 Local time onboard is 1441 and our current position is 40°71'283N 74°01'727W