Anne

Anne arrived in Bermuda on June 14th,  never having met Branko, Sophie or me in person.   Our only relationship/conversations were via email - we liken it to internet dating although none of us has tried it, yet.   At first it was just Anne and I conversing, and well the 'love' began to bloom.

Arrival in Bermuda

Fixing the wind vane

Changing the headsail

Cutting onions, with goggles....

Ah,  the artist

Washing the floor, Sophie helping

A picture says so much

Getting directions

Portimao arrival

Anne had a number of options to choose from,  one was a research vessel sailing north, past the NWT and hopefully to Alaska by mid-summer, others not so challenging, east coast of the U.S., Toronto to Lake Huron  .....;  she finally decided upon H2OBO and crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Having spent the last 4 years sailing the English Channel and area, she felt ready to tackle the ocean, like us, it was to be her first trip.

Anne could have jumped ship at anytime - our 'friends' continually showed her their boats, saying things like "you will have your own room and head" or "fresh baked bread everyday",  she was quite popular and very well liked.   Happily for us,  she is a loyal friend and had no intention of leaving us :-) regardless of all the luxuries offered.  Her bed (when not on passage) was behind the curtain in the salon, and she not only shared the head but cleaned it as well.

James Bond, 007 pic, Flores

She loves to sail, loves the ocean and prefers to be on the water, out of sight of land.  Always in a good mood, and ready, able and willing to do any kind of boat work.   During the first gale our fishing line got caught in the wind vane (don't ask) and we needed to take the vane down (in very rolly seas,) cut out the line,  and then reattach the blades - Anne was first up, nimbly climbing the stainless and attaching wires while holding on to the boat with her legs.  Her only comment was " I love problems, figuring out how to sort them and then fixing them.."    Her personality never changed,  happy, content,  interested and interesting.

Getting into the dingy, after a drink or two

Ferry to Cadiz

Beach day, with Fumi and Yoshi

Drinking in Pico, Azores

A great conversationalist.   Each morning she and Branko had coffee and cake while watching the sun come up.  I would be off watch and wake up to them laughing and talking in the cockpit - what a nice way to greet the day. We all enjoyed our time with Anne - including Sophie, who fell in love with her after just a few days.

Anne left us on Friday,   returning to a life on land - at least for a little while :-)

See you soon Anne.
XXXXOOOO
Love Maggie, Branko and Sophie

P.S. I would have more pictures of Anne doing feats of daring-do but we were pretty busy during those times and unfortunately :-) have only ones of Anne drinking, cleaning or acting like herself.