"Hallelujah," posted the "La Vagabonde" crew from on board on the first Sunday of Advent, "Day 18, baby, and we're almost there!!!" That was two days ago, and now Greta Thunberg and her crew have actually made it and reached the Alcantara marina off Lisbon this Tuesday lunchtime after a final cross.
"A real challenge" - a cruise against the clock
Just under three weeks ago, on 14 November, the Outremer 45 "La Vagabonde" ferry left the US state of Virginia to take Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg across the Atlantic with zero emissions. Her destination is the UN Climate Change Conference in Madrid, which began yesterday.
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One of the last reports from on board the Australians proves that the journey was very tough at times:
"Hugs and tears of joy, 135 nautical miles off the coast. We can't believe we've almost made it. But it was a real challenge. The wind and swell had increased, especially in the last few days. We're getting really shaken up out here and the water wants to get in from all sides. The floor is wet despite constant mopping, so it's best to hold on with everything you've got when you move."
Behind the crew of six lies a rough voyage across the wintry North Atlantic, with initial seasickness, heavy weather, but also days in the doldrums and constant time pressure to make it to the European coast in time.
Exceptional crew
The owners of "La Vagabonde" are the Australians Elayna Carausu and Riley Whitelum, who have been sailing around the world for five years and currently run the most successful sailing video blog with their YouTube channel about the drop-out life.
The couple's almost one-year-old son and Thunberg's father were also on board. British professional sailor Nikki Henderson was also on board for the trip to support skipper Riley.
"It was a privilege"
The former skipper of the Clipper Round The World Race summarised the Atlantic crossing and arrival in one of her regular Facebook posts from on board:
"It was a privilege to have helped Riley and Elayna sail Greta and her father safely to Europe and ultimately to their family and home. Being part of this project is something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the climate emergency, to make five new friends; and best of all, to enjoy and share the purity, perspective and peace that sailing across an ocean provides."
