This is the post I’ve been dreaming of writing since the day this project became a reality, when I signed the paperwork for Constellation in August, 2006. I literally cannot believe I’m here, sitting on an island off of Africa, departing for the Caribbean, tomorrow. I’m speechless, which is why I’m writing.
I won’t be speechless forever though, because while I sail across the Atlantic, I’ll be dropping updates back to the site as an audio podcast. Which means, you’ll be able to hear my silly voice telling you all about my adventures via satellite phone, from the middle of nowhere! The podcast will be available to play within each post update over the following month, or you can subscribe via iTunes. Read more about it all on the new Podcast page. Remember, while I’m out there sailing, it’s possible I will be closer to orbiting satellites than I will be to land! Chew on that for awhile…
While you’re chewing, I’ll explain what’s happening, where I’m going, and what I’m doing it all for.
Each voice podcast will be an un-rehearsed update on my trip, including our current position. I expect it will be quite different from my posts up until now, as I will have limited airtime, and speaking is quite different from writing! Very special thanks to Marty at Autosystems for assisting with my satellite communications costs, and also for agreeing to coordinate and manage the technical aspects of website while I’m at sea. If you’re enjoying the podcast, leave a thank you comment for Marty, I know he’d appreciate it! I will leave an update roughly every 4 to 5 days, so if you do leave any comments on the posts, maybe he can even read a few out to me, to keep me going! If you’re feeling really keen and have the time, it would be great if someone felt like transcribing each podcast as a blog comment. This will allow people who can’t listen to the update still keep know what’s going on. Also, if updates suddenly stop, keep in mind there is a far greater chance of technical problems than anything more serious (ie. phone failure, electrical system meltdown, aliens attacking satellites etc).
Within each post, a player will show up which looks like this:
Subscribe to the podcast here (cut and paste the url into the podcast subscribe box of the latest version of iTunes)
Or get notified of new updates via email here.
The most important thing of all though, is what I’m hoping to support via my crossing. For a long time now, I’ve wanted to try and do something good with my trip. So, it is here that I will announce my attempt to raise money to help Oxfam Australia build bridges in Cambodia. I will call this project ‘Bridge over the Atlantic’, and you can read exactly what I’m talking about, how to help, and more on my new Fundraising page. I will not double-post everything here, so I urge you to read the full details of my fundraising campaign via the new dedicated area, if only because I think you’ll quite like the idea! With each significant ocean passage over 1000nm, I will attempt to raise funds for a unique and interesting cause, each one being different and taking part in another area of the globe. You all know I rarely have a dime to my name, but, for this crossing, I would like to forget about my own problems, and use my crossing to generate goodwill for others. If you run a website, consider linking to my new fundraising page, or alternatively, if you have a printer and a large workplace, think about printing off one of these flyers to rally support!
Unless there is an unscheduled stop in Cape Verde, I’ll be back to my normal post routine in some 30 days, live from Barbados - For now, each post will simply be titled ‘Bridge over the Atlantic, Day X’.
Thank you so much to everyone who takes the time to read this site, to all the wonderful people I’ve met in the Canaries, and to the sponsors who continually get me out of a jam! Thank you to Martin & Loopy in Barbados for the local pilotage info, Fudgie for everything, and Rich for the weather routing assistance. And last but not least, a big HELLO to all the 3rd graders at Rippowam Cisqua in New York!
Till the Caribbean, moby nick.
March 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Great news on all fronts - I’m just back from Cambodia m’self so know what benefits your fundraising will deliver. Don’t hurry across the pond - enjoy the sunrises, sunsets and the flying fish and throw us a few profound insights when done. I shall be thinking of you and imagining the freedom. Best regards. David
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:07 pm
Hey Nick,
all the best for your trip across the atlantic ocean - you will enjoy it, I’m sure!
Say “Hi” to Barbados for me, last time I saw it only at night while sailing on to St. Lucia…
Good luck and god bless you!
Johannes
March 23rd, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I forgot to mention: Great idea with the podcast!
I’ll be a visitor on your website every day!
Again, all the best!
Johannes
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Have a very good trip across the “pond,” and enjoy it.
March 23rd, 2008 at 10:20 pm
!!!!! bon voyage buddy!!!!!
March 23rd, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Hi Nick,
Glad to hear you are off at last. Have a safe trip. Believe me, the first beer you have in Barbados will be the best you have tasted so far.
Cheers
Ian
March 24th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Hi Nick,
so great to hear, and at long last my friend.
May the sea chickens guide you safely across, wishing very best and more.
If you had no time to look at my mail - Try and to get some of those pickled questions down on cam, “one a day may just keep you sane”.
Enjoy it all and see you soon,
Jack
March 24th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Hi, Nick.
Who, better than Kavafis, could wish you a good journey?
Ithaka
As you set out for Ithaka
hope the journey is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon - don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon - you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope the voyage is a long one.
may there be many a summer morning when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into harbours seen for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind -
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvellous journey.
without her you would not have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Nick
You enjoy the trip, you have been working to get to this point for a long time and I know it must be so exciting for you, so enjoy everything about it even the tuff stuff.
Sir Peter
March 24th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Hey Nick,
It’s nice that we are able to follow you on audio.
Be safe out there.
Wim
March 25th, 2008 at 12:25 am
Struth and crikey !! Good luck feller. Looking forward to hearing the commentary from the front lines.
T.
March 25th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Nick
Good luck from Guildford.
Podcasts are a good idea (well done to your technical team) - I will even encourage teachers at my kids’ school to get on board and tune in to your adventure.
I’m sure you and the Contessa will be up to it. Good luck
d
March 25th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
All the very best to you. Will keep an eye on your progress from Berlin.
March 25th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Blimey.
I don’t know what to say beyond the obvious.
You’ll do it, Nick.
Fairwinds friend,
Maria
March 26th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Crikey Nick,
What an adventure!
We’ll be following your journey daily..
Enjoy the magic
SV Morgana
March 28th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Thinking of you, Nick.
Standing by on zero 9.
Cor, wonder where you are at the moment.
My tummy is all excited for you.
Fairwinds.
April 2nd, 2008 at 8:00 pm
wow Nick … thinking of you … and wishing you sun, wind and some company …
Can people call you?
cheers,
Michael