We have arrived in Glyngøre. All the way through the Limfjord we have been met by enthusiastic people – Oddersund Bridge was packed and behind us more and more sailing boats and motor boats turned out. The Naval Home Guard’s "Jupiter" was the first to receive us at Thyborøn.
And when we moored in Glyngøre, we were met by more than a thousand people along the shore and quay, enthusiastically clapping and waving. A completely fantastic welcome.
Within a few minutes of the end of the 53-hour trip from Den Helder, the very tired crew all had a glass of champagne in the one hand and a Limfjord oyster in the other. The local people had pulled out all the stops for us and we had another lump in our throats as we swallowed the fresh oysters. Soon the crew was driven off in buses to the local sports facilities where was a communal shower. And at 7 o’clock we were invited to dinner.
But there will probably not be strength for a really big party. The crew of the Sea Stallion are usually extraordinarily fond of partying, but if there are the tired looks and people slowly disappearing out and over to the tents set up by the marina, it’ll be because the last 24 hours have been a trial. Last night out in the middle of the North Sea, we were met with the worst rain showers we have seen so far. The water just poured unmercifully down over us in showers so heavy that the sea around us was almost hammered flat by the whipping rain. And as you know, there is no shelter on the Sea Stallion, so the hard pressed crew just had to put up with it. At one point lightning began to crack down around us and for a time the whole crew stood ready to take down the sail in the event of storm. But we were lucky and after some hours and several hundred litres of water, the free watch could finally lie down to rest under clammy woollen blankets.
In the approach to Thyborøn, we said an appropriate farewell to the support vessel Cable One, which accompanied us with its clever, professional and always helpful crew. In lots of situations both at sea and on land these good people have distinguished themselves with a ready-steady-go attitude to virtually any challenge.
So when the Sea Stallion lay beside Cable One in front of the Thyborøn Channel, Skipper Carsten Hvid counted “one, two, three” and the crew of the Sea Stallion shouted in chorus up to the crew on Cable One:
"Cawel Yen"
"Cawel Yen"
"Cawel Yen"
"HRAAAAAH!"
Thanks to all of you. We will miss you and we hope to see you in Roskilde on Saturday. From the heart, thanks!