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Atlantic crossing fulfils a lifelong dream for couple
AN ADVENTUROUS couple are back in Whitby after sailing round the Atlantic.
Extreme weather and encounters with sharks and whales did not stop the intrepid explorers in their tracks.
Chris and Pat Richardson, who live in Fryupdale, have successfully completed their challenge in their yacht Pelagia travelling 12,000 miles in just 14 months.
The Pelagia is a Swedish build Hallberg-Rassy and is 36 ft.
The trip was a long-held ambition of Chris (63) and Pat (60) who are both retired and have been keen sailors for 30 years.
Chris was a chemical engineer and Pat was a teacher at Castleton school
Chris said: “It is every sailor’s ambition to cross an ocean.
“It was a great challenge and was a long time in the planning – it took us about a year to organise.
The couple did the voyage alone, although they were assisted by a rota of people to help them crew at various stages.
They sailed down the Canary Islands via Portugal and Madeira and spent 21 days at sea with no sight of dry land.
They then sailed across to the Caribbean and up through the Bahamas, across Bermuda and the Azores and back to Falmouth.
They were welcomed back to Whitby by a party of family and friends, with champagne at the ready.
The couple’s round Britain trip featured in the Gazette in 2001.
Their trip featured a number of highs and lows, including gearbox failure in the Virgin Islands which could have scuppered the entire trip and they were lucky to acquire a spare.
Pat said other low points included having to wash her hair, dishes and utensils in sea water.
Highs included encountering a playful whale and Pat also got more than she bargained for one day when she ventured out of the boat and saw what she thought was a large fish – it turned out to be a four foot long shark.
“The locals called him Barry the barracuda and he was well known for lurking in the bay but I was quite unprepared when I met him.”
In the Atlantic they got caught up in the edge of a tropical depression.
“There were very strong winds and storms, we had to keep constant watch even throughout the night,” said Chris.
On the way back from Bermuda they were again caught in storms and had to navigate the Pelagia through a very narrow entrance where coral could have smashed the boat up.
“It was a very stressful experience. ” said Pat.
They took in all manner of sights and dived in Thunderball cave where the James Bond film was made.
“It is the people who make the island and in the Bahamas they were just so lovely and friendly.”said Chris.
Pat, who describes the Pelagia as their life support machine in the ocean, admits the couple have their moments but on the whole get on very well which enables them to spend such long periods of time together in a confined space.
“We were looking forward to coming home by the end of the trip, we missed our friends and family but, to be honest the hard work ensured we didn’t really have time to give home a second thought,” said Chris.
The Richardson’s are unsure of their future plans but, in the short term, intend to stay on dry land.
“After 12,00 miles in 14 months – we need a rest.
“It’s not as glamorous or luxurious as you might think,” said Pat.
“There is a lot of hard work to be done day and night.”
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Weather for Whitby
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
