Position: Esbjerg
Weather: even more sun today
Arrival in Esbjerg
Our wake up call came loud and early. Clouds gave way to sunshine as we neared port. Since we’re under engine we stand a different set of watches in two hour shifts and thus can all rise together for breakfast. It was time for Rein Schiff, cleaning from stem to stern to present Alex’s best face to Esbjerg.
A flurry of sweeping and dusting and disinfecting of all the common areas followed. Many hands make light work- light but crowded. Still we had below decks spotless within the hour. Then it was time to scrub the top decks and pack the rest of the sails. Several teams laid aloft to spread out on the yards and fold the sails and secure them.
I’d been looking forward to packing sails. It’s a great test of coordination and nerve. What I did not anticipate was the joy of hanging in the rigging as many of the ships came together and pilot boats came to greet us and the Danish coast rose from the sea. The water is jade now so close to land. Sandy mudflats stretch on either side of the channel and as I was draped over the yard working I spotted seals lounging on beaches and someone enjoying a horseback ride down the shore. Past the beaches greenery stretched up the hillsides and behind the industrial buildings of the warf we could see the lovely orange roofs and steeples of Esbjerg.
At this point I was bursting with joy, dancing little jigs here and there and generally making a nusiance of myself. The festival atmosphere coming from the crowds welcoming us and the other crews combined with all of us sailors showing off as we paraded into port left me giddy. I helped manage spring lines and watched in awe as the largest tall ship still sailing today was nudged by two tug boats into the berth astern of us. This was parallel parking at it’s most elaborate.
There were sweet reunions with family for the Danish trainees and another round of packing sails and trimming the yards and coiling lines to put the last polish on our ship. Now we were folded over the yards with a rapt audience below. It was great fun waving to the children.
A highlight of the morning was the spectacular entrance of the Statsradd Lehmkuhl. This crew was lining every yard of their foremast to create a sailor choir to great effect. I happened to be aloft on the aft mast’s crows nest at the time and in a state of rapture.
I thought the day couldn’t get better. Then the live music from Esbjerg started. While the sailing has ended for me this trip the party is just getting started.
Best wishes, captain Mike, Shelly and the crew