We finally got under way and in what seems to be typical “Sea Stallion weather” – pouring rain. From the window, the morning looked beautiful and sunny, but as soon as we stepped outside, the sluices opened and both our breakfast and personal luggage got soaked.
Despite the rain, spirits are high these first couple of hours of sailing. The Scot, Fergus, has his flute with him and has played for us to dance on the mast fish and spare rudder. The party finished off with liver paste and Skipper Mix liquorice.
Underneath the yellow rain hoods there is a lot of chatting. New and old crew are getting to know each other, the latter telling stories about last year and the foreign hands get a course in the Danish terms on the Sea Stallion: the ropes, commands, and all the different tins of fish in the lunch box.
We are on course for Wicklow, with an invitation from the sailing club there, and then we hope for the right wind and sunshine, so we can get down to Land’s End. There are rumours of sunshine and temperatures of 25°–30° in both England and Denmark, but here there are only grey clouds. Once the Sea Stallion was a happy ship sailing in sunshine - we hope that happens again soon.