The joy and the reality checks of circumnavigating—World Cruising news

by David Schmidt, Sail-World Cruising Editor on 27 Nov 2015 Plenty of people dream of sailing around the world, yet few actually cast their physical and metaphorical dock lines and aim their bows for the wide-open blue. Not so with Ian “Thommo” Thomson (AUS) and his wife, Annika Fredriksson (AUS/SWE), who are currently living their dream while also raising global awareness about the world’s oceans through Ocean Crusaders (oceancrusaders.org), the non-profit group that Thommo started in 2010 after shaving a proud 26 days off of the solo around-Australia circumnavigation record. By bolstering his international sailing profile, Thommo wisely bought himself some serious dock cred, while also establishing himself as a recognized voice for environmental and ocean conservancy.

Thommo and Fredriksson have both worked as professional captains in the sailing-tourism trade off of Australia’s magnificent Whitsunday Islands, so they are well familiar with the challenges of hoisting sail with rookies aboard, but-as they discovered on a recent passage from Almerimar, Spain to the Barbados, carrying paying passengers has a dark side.

But as all good skippers know, with challenges come opportunities, and neither Thommo or Fredriksson are the types to have their spirits or their enjoyment of offshore sailing quashed by the presence of onboard negativity.

“With limited crew, we weren’t going to race the leg, it was about making it,” wrote Thomson about the passage to Barbados. ”The spinnaker would not fly at night, and if it got too windy it would come down even during the day. We had time on our side, we didn’t have funds to fix too much so our plan was simple, sail well within the boats capabilities, even if it took longer.”

Even with this simple and sound approach to passagemaking, there’s no question that running a boat, 24/7 for days at a time, is both mentally and physically exhausting, even for seasoned sailors such as Thommo and Fredriksson.

“By week two you start getting tired,” wrote Thommo. “People are not meant to sleep four hours on, four hours off and you don’t really get four hours. Maybe a kite needs to be launched or pulled in, maybe a meal falls in the middle of your off watch, you just don’t get the rest you normally would, and when it is your turn on watch you have plenty do to most of the time, making sure the navigation is good, the sails are trimmed, etc.”

Unfortunately for Thomson and Fredriksson, Zuzana, their paying guest, didn’t exactly feel the same sense of mission commitment, despite having made the decision to spend a sizeable chunk (just over 21 days) at sea. “You would think that by the end of two weeks at sea, someone would know something about sailing but Zuzana had not shown any interest in learning how to sail,” continued Thomson. “It was really frustrating for both Annika and I and as we entered our last week we couldn’t wait to get to Barbados to get her off the boat. We needed the cash, that’s why we took her with us, but I will still today claim it as the hardest money I’ve ever earnt.”

But while Zuzana’s presence and personality became a headache, the sailing and the experience of being way, way, way offshore was still magical, at least for those who chose to look at the situation through the right-colored lens.

“The color of the water in the middle of the ocean is the most spectacular color that those who never go there will never understand,” reported Thomson, who had to go swimming to ensure that his prop was clear of a wrapped fishing line. “The clarity and the sun rays streaming through the water are unbelievable, something that makes ocean sailing so special. You also get joined by lots of birds and even dragonflies on our trip. It is a magical place the middle of the ocean.”

But all magic eventually runs its course and after three weeks at sea, the crew was ready to feel sand between their toes, to smell vegetation growing on hillsides, and to taste the trappings of life ashore, namely fresh foods and perhaps the errant libation (or four). And while a safe and successful landfall should always be cause for celebration after a lengthy duration at sea, some crewmembers were less jovial than others.

“Zuzana hadn’t come on deck for the arrival, but Annika and I celebrated with a drink,” wrote Thomson. “Not only had we crossed the Atlantic, we had done it on our own yacht, short handed and the only damage was a spinnaker halyard we knew was on its way out, and a few lost lures.”

Be sure to check out Thomson’s fantastic, multi-part report on his circumnavigation, inside this issue. You will not be disappointed!

Also inside, get the latest thinking on tether use, learn more about the ongoing Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, and find out more about the El Nino effect and its influence on global weather. Finally, take a stroll through sailing’s lexicon to learn what everyday phrases have salty origins. Enjoy!

May the four winds blow you safely home,