The Question Everyone Asks
After we had to cancel our sailing trip to Greenland and settle for cruising the beautiful Norwegian fjords instead, everyone keeps telling us things like: "What's wrong with sailing a yacht in the Norwegian fjords?" or "There are worse things in life than spending three weeks in Norway."
And they are absolutely right. But it still requires an explanation as to why we are still sad, frustrated, and mostly disappointed.
The Moon Mission
Imagine an astronaut who trains for a mission to the Moon for three years. He practices, gets excited, and then, while the rocket is on the launchpad and the countdown is running, he is told: "There is a technical problem. You cannot go to the Moon. Instead, we have a plane that will take you on a flight around the Earth."
Who wouldn't want to fly around the Earth? Who would say no to such an offer? Who would be disappointed by a trip around the world?
The Countdown
On a slightly smaller scale, our entire crew was preparing for Greenland.
Months of preparations, permits, safety checks, buying gear, studying, and endless excitement brought us together on the deck of the LEA at the end of July.
After long days of preparing the boat, buying hundreds of kilograms of supplies, packing everything inside, and upgrading almost every system, all while bonding as a crew and improving our professional skills, we were finally ready to set sail.
And then... right in the middle of the countdown... 10, 9, 8, 7...
A major problem was discovered in the mast.
After a long night of checks and evaluations, the decision was made: we could not go on this journey.
Processing the News
The news hit us like a bolt of lightning on a clear day. There were many tears, hugs, and deep sadness.
We could have all gone home, given up on the dream, and stayed in our despair.
Instead, we decided to stay together for two or three weeks, process the news together, and even grieve for what was taken from us.
As it happened, we were already in Norway.
Why the Fjords Are Not Greenland
Now, remember the astronaut who got a plane ride instead of a spaceship? For sailors, that is exactly what it feels like to cruise on a yacht without raising the sails, using only a noisy engine while the wind is blowing joyfully all around us.
It is true that it is very beautiful here, but none of us would have chosen to go on a motorboat trip in the Norwegian fjords. And that is without even mentioning the huge preparation and effort we put into the Greenland journey.
So yes, we are disappointed and sad, even in one of the most beautiful places in the world where many people would love to be. We feel this way because we came here for something completely different.
Looking Forward
To conclude, I must add:
We are enjoying the views, we are enjoying being together as a team, we are visiting magical places, eating well, and laughing a lot. We are not miserable. We are just very disappointed.
Niv
Add comment
Comments