Atlantic Challenger 2015

Caroline J Y 2024

Image  Courtesy of Caroline Opacic and to whom all rights are reserved - The  Challenger Crew Dinner Post Atlantic Challenge Voyage 13 October 2015 ©  Caroline Jayne Opacic

Image Courtesy of Caroline Opacic and to whom all rights are reserved - The Challenger Crew Dinner Post Atlantic Challenge Voyage 13 October 2015 © Caroline Jayne Opacic

Written on 18 March 2015 whilst following Atlantic Challenger’s progress in the night on AI Navigation in Liverpool. Such excitement. Such pride in my nieces. And in 2020 we see Challenger still very much in life’s frame and a nautical theme that underpins both nieces. I admit great pride and joy.

HMS Dragon I had the joy to look out upon, on many a day from my lounge. Sleek, slender, almost an understatement, it never ceased to enthral me that her power is that of a battle fleet.



Part I

The lonely sea and the sky


Of Chichester refrain


White horses


Rolling waves


Gargantuan swells


Heaving seas


Rigging taut


Sails straining


Masts creaking


Wind singing in the rigging


Hull groaning


Helm holding firm


Steering Nor-by-Nor-West


On a bearing for Liverpool


A violent heaving squall


Change course


Steer South by South-East


on a bearing for Southampton


The stars at night


Peaceful


Duty crew 


The rest sleeping below

Caroline - Challenger 2 24.6.2020.jpg



Part II

Dolphins off starboard bow


Leaping


Coming in alongside


Steering her into wind


We take up sail


Hoisting full rigging 


Leaning well into wind


Comforted by the Dolphins School

Playing, leaping, chattering
, squealing

Alongside me


All is well


they seem to say


Their Presence almost spiritual


At the very least


We, all of us, know we are


At one with Nature




Part III


The lash of spray …


Foremast almost breaking!


All hands on deck !!!
All hands on deck !!

Trim sail


Heave her in


Heave … heave …

Our bearing correcting

Aligning with horizon

Caroline - Challenger 3 24.6.2020.jpg
Somehow we are riding the stormThis spectacular Image is by Matt Hardy Artist Photographer of Australia through Unsplash

Somehow we are riding the storm

This spectacular Image is by Matt Hardy Artist Photographer of Australia through Unsplash


Part IV

Storm approaching


Lightning - sheet and forked


Angry


Queasiness … no time
 to dwell

Maintain course


Hold steady




All sail : pull in
!

Pump out water


Gib the spinnaker
!

Waves now 30 metres [i] above us


Turn her into the wall


Aim for the summit

Ride the crest of the wave


Stomachs heave

Roll down the other side 


Hold firm this collosal Wheel

Every hand at station


Working as one


Excitement, danger, beyond measure


We ride the storm



We dominate the sea


Challenger takes on Mighty Neptune 


And Neptune gives way …


… a brief lull between waves …


as if in salute

We are worthy!

Odd! From out of no where

I find recall

from long departed Kings

Winchester Days

… and even the winds and seas obeyed Him


A break in the cloud 


A glorious light 


The Dawn



Beamed smiles 
observe the breaking day


Tempest subdues


We hold steady
 and high-five

Set course again 


‘Sou-by-Sou-South-East 
10 miles nautical 


Sou-sou-east Helmsman



Now 20 degrees East 


We make good progress


All Crew - All Crew


maintain close Watch


We are in the Shipping Lanes


A light flickers out on port beam


Warship outline


Radio traffic


A surge of excitement below 


Wow Girls n Guys!

We’ve just received a message


from HMS Dragon


I’m to pass on their congratulations


to the crew of Atlantic Challenger …!



It sends a buzz of electricity


through everyone of us

I ponder …

that unbelievable feeling

makes me think

of our Dolphins chattering

and squealing and doing

their own high-fives

literally

… before the storm

Part V

Winds quickening 


Bracing ourselves 


Hold steady ...

Hold, Hold, Hold...

...
NOW
!

FULL STARBOARD


SWING THE WHEEL CAROLINE



HOIST THE MAIN SAIL


FULL BLOWN BEFORE THE WIND



CHALLENGER CAN TAKE THIS 


COME ON!!







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Part VI

She leans into wind


Crew lean out 


Precarious angle


Salt on lips in eyes in hair


Oh what exhilaration is this!


Oh what joy! what privilege!


Bestowed upon us


To ride before the wings of the wind


Pennants flying


Red Ensign full blown


Britannia herself has taken up the Race!!

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Part VII

Landfall


Great cheers and tears


Tears of joy


Hugs and kisses


Lifelong friendships formed


A love of the Sea confirmed


A very, very healthy respect too!!


Proof indeed … 


We are an Island People


We are a Maritime People


We will always love the Sea

We will always love the Sea

We will always love the Sea

Caroline - Challenger 8 24.6.2020.jpg

Part VIII



Challenger 


What beauty you are


Every part of you


You are not fabric!



You are life and soul


You are spirit 


You reflect our spirits


And by so doing 


You reflect truly 


The Spirit also





Long may you sail the seas


And teach young people

The challenges of the Ocean Deep


And, in turn, of landward too

Part IX

Farewell most glorious ship
You kept us safe
You took us across the mighty Atlantic
You gave us a glimpse
In the briefest instant of the
Very Face of GOD


24 October 2024
All Rights Reserved


LIVERPOOL


© 2024 Kenneth Thomas Webb

HMS Dragon of the Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer. Image by kind courtesy of HM MOD.

HMS Dragon of the Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer. Image by kind courtesy of HM MOD.









2020 - by gracious permission of Caroline - © CJO 2020 - all rights reserved to her

2020 - by gracious permission of Caroline - © CJO 2020 - all rights reserved to her

First written 8 March 2015

Ken Webb is a writer and proofreader. His website, kennwebb.com, showcases his work as a writer, blogger and podcaster, resting on his successive careers as a police officer, progressing to a junior lawyer in succession and trusts as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, a retired officer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and latterly, for three years, the owner and editor of two lifestyle magazines in Liverpool.

He also just handed over a successful two year chairmanship in Gloucestershire with Cheltenham Regency Probus.

Pandemic aside, he spends his time equally between his city, Liverpool, and the county of his birth, Gloucestershire.

In this fast-paced present age, proof-reading is essential. And this skill also occasionally leads to copy-editing writers’ manuscripts for submission to publishers and also student and post graduate dissertations.