The Decision

How it came about.

In 2005 we sailed from Turkey up to Venice with several friends joining us for different parts of the trip. It was wonderful but we decided that we must decide this year whether we wanted to tackle the Atlantic. Neither of us had ever really dreamt of doing this despite the fact that we had batted the idea about when we first bought the boat and yet we both like to have an aim each season when cruising. Near the end of 2005 we had made up our minds not to cross. We loved what we were doing. We loved Turkey, the Turkish people, the friends we had made both on land and on boats and enjoyed bumping into them throughout the season in various places. We loved the Greek islands and knew there was so much more to enjoy there. We wanted to continue this life. However, we joined a Cruising Association end of season "Cruise in company" and this was the undoing of the decision. On this mini-cruise we met some lovely people who had "done the world trip". In particular Hugh and Angela from Spring Gold II were very inspiring and when Angela said "Go for it Mags" our minds were changed and we decided to cross the Atlantic.

Mags coped with the idea best by imagining that after the Atlantic crossing we would cruise the Caribbean and then work our way up the Inter Coastal Waterway as far as New York. She of course has visited New York many times in her career with the United Nations and thought that to sail near the UN building and wave as well perhaps as doing a bit of shopping would be wonderful. Then we could make the round trip back to Europe and spend some time on the Atlantic coast visiting Portugal and Spain before finally returning to Turkey. Barry on the other hand felt that having made the crossing one might just as well carry on round. We agreed to differ and felt that we could leave the decision on what to do after the Atlantic until later.

In 2006 we returned to JJ Moon in Kemer and enjoyed a wonderful holiday cruising the Turkish coast, seeing old friends and sailing with new friends from Devon, Felicity and Roger. We revisited some of the Greek islands, got to know some new places on the Peloponnesos coast and eventually brought the boat to Port Ginesta, outside Barcelona. The plan was that Mags would return in early August to take back her house from her American tenants who were returning to the United States after a year. She would then re-let it for the next year. In June however, her American tenants sent an email to say that there was a Chinese family very interested in taking the house over. She contacted them and was rather taken aback to find that they actually wanted it for two and a half years! Was this a sign? Thinking it through and discussing it we decided that if we were to do any really serious sailing then this was the time and she told Barry she would give him the next two and a half years to do the sailing he wanted. On returning to France we met the Chinese family who were extremely nice, negotiated the price, agreed to sell them the car and were content that this would work well. However, Friday evening they phoned to say they had changed their mind and didn't want the house. Ouch! The weekend was a time of reflection but Mags' optimism returned and we were sure that something better would turn up. And so it has proved. Three months of work and worry but we now have tenants for both houses, people we believe will really enjoy them as well as look after them. We have sold the French car, sorted our tax and other money issues, seen as many friends as we could as well as family of course, bought a folding bike for the boat (Mags' pride and joy) and prepared JJ Moon for longer trips.

Not pertaining to the decision but adding a good measure of both security and future pleasure we have friends Chris and Sue who want to join us on the Atlantic crossing and if all goes well (we all agree we need to keep a finger on the pulse) continue with us maybe as far as New Zealand.

So now we are off.