Pomp And Ceremony

The crowd went wild!

Sunday saw the build of nervous tension and excitement as the day progressed. We were instructed to be on board at 0900. So a last hearty breakfast in the hotel and farewell to Rosemary. An hour or so later, with not much going on I managed to show a couple more friends quickly round the boat and hung around a little bit more with family and friends until the pull of the boat got too much for me and so I said my final farewells until I would return on 8th October.

The morning started to drag and we started to grow impatient, we had had enough of the build up, we wanted to go sailing. However, there was the send of ceremony to be completed first. St Kats was packed with people come to see the spectacle and cheer of their loved ones and friends. Two years previous I was on the quay side watching the 13-14 race leave. Then I was on the outside looking in, now I was on the inside looking out.

Drummer up the mast

The ceremony started and a troop of drummers embarked on the boats to be winched up the mast. We had the base drummer, which was a delicate operation getting him up to the first spreaders with is drum. When their time came it lasted about 10 seconds and because of the general noise in the dock, if you weren't paying attention, then you would have missed it!

The first crews disembarked and made their way around the back of the dock for their appearance in the stage. Being the 10th boat the wait for our turn grew, but finally we were off. As we reached the holding position near the stage Visit Seattle and PSP Logistics gave us a round of applause, which we returned. As each crew made their way onto the stage, the boat song was played, as was Best Day Of My Life - American Authors. As we approached the stage Sir Robin was there to shake our hands and wish us well. The compere asked Diane, Han and Linda before our team photo was taken and our last hurrah before we left the stage.

Official crew photo

Soon after the first boat slipped its lines and headed out onto the river Thames. We had to do a 10 point turn in order to get out of our mooring, but eventually we were off. As we shot through the lock, we lined up on the port side ready for the photo boat and then joined the other boats circling around on the Thames. The river was was packed with spectator boats full of cheering and waving people. The river banks were also jammed full of people. It was a strange feeling, it felt like being a rock star!

Going through Tower Bridge

When all the boats were on the river Tower Bridge opened for us. One the previous race, only three boats went under the bridge, but this time, we were all going under. It was really special moment to go under Tower Bridge as it is not opened for just anyb
ody. Once through we then had the backdrop of The Tower of London on one side and HMS Belfast on the other. Once GREAT Britain and UNICEF  had made their way to the front of the flotilla, the bridge opened again and we headed of down river to Queenborough, where we would spend the night in ready for the proper race start the following day off Southend pier.

The spectator boats followed us down river, but one by one they turned round to head back up river. A number of tall ships were moored at Greenwich and as we passed them we exchanged salutes. Though the crowds thinned as we made our way down the river, they never truly disappeared until we had got passed Gravesend. At one point a drone flew out to us and waggled its wings at us.

Darkness had fallen by the time we entered the Thames estuary, which was a shame as this is my home sailing ground and I was looking forward to seeing it from ClipperTelemed+. Bed time came and I posted my last Facebook message and signed off until Rio. Tomorrow, we would be leaving these shores on an adventure, which none of us, not even Diane had any kind of experience.

What fun!