21-10-12-Lord Nelson STW1

Its Aft Port reporting from our first watch (Sue, Sally, Natalie, Nick, James, Luke, Will and Beryl.) Woke up like a normal day on an ordinary voyage but as family and friends arrived on the quayside and we got chatting to them, the enormity and privilege of what we are part of started to hit home. Emotions began to bubble up. Some early birds even got a sneaky open ships tour before the Mate asked all visitors to be ashore and all the crew to be on board as the gangway was going to be lifted and the lines cast off.... Last hugs from increasingly envious family & friends, lots of pic's taken, then just at the last minute the captain was presented with a Paralympic torch to take to Rio, and we were away........ WE really are off the Rio. We might have appeared to be going in the wrong direction but Barbara did know what she was doing. We motored up Southampton Water for half a mile, turned to Port, set sail then escorted by the tug with water plumes and a flotilla of small yachts and motor launches, headed out to sea waving furiously at everyone on the quayside. WOW what a send-off. Thanks to everyone :) Lots of us commented to each other how fortunate we as crew are to be on this epic adventure..... more to follow. Watch this space.