First step on land

Date: 26.12.2023
Position: Aruba, Oranjestad
Etmal: 0 nm
Total: 5495 nm
Ship: Regina Maris

First day after the crossing

After 16 days at sea, we entered a harbor in Aruba yesterday evening. Today, we had to wait until Michael and Thomas came back from the Emigration Central. During that time, no one else was allowed to leave the ship to take their first step on land after the Atlantic Crossing. Finally, after an endless time, all the immigration procedures were completed and we could leave the harbor to anchor in a bay next to an airport.

There, sadly, our doctor Patrick and our cook Jürgen left us. Also, because Michael is leaving soon, Martin came on board, who is going to be our new captain.

To spend the rest of the day, we had a beach afternoon. And then there it was, the first step on land after nearly two and a half weeks. The time at the beach was nice; everyone enjoyed going swimming and playing volleyball/American football.

Interview

The crossing was an emotional time for most of us. For you to understand our emotions better, I did an interview about that time and the first step.

How was your first step on land?

Joshi: I imagined it to be a bit more special than it really was. But it was still super to feel stable ground under my feet and not have to „mitwanken.“

Greta: Actually quite unremarkable; I just took a step, and then I was on Aruba. I thought it would feel much more special than it actually did, but it was nice anyway.

Kris: It was great! I stepped on my fourth continent. It felt kind of weird to step on ground that isn’t moving.

Stella: Actually not so special because we realized that it is land a few minutes later. But it was quite funny that nothing moved all the time.

Anna: It was hard to get it into my head that I was standing on not shaky ground for the first time in two weeks. I always had to remind myself: You’re in the fricking Caribbean now!

Franka: Slippery, I nearly fell down…

How was the Atlantic crossing for you (emotions, etc.)?

Kris: It was completely different than expected. I thought it would be more special to not see land for two weeks. But you had a lot of time to think about everything, which changed some of us in some ways. After like 1 1/2 weeks, I experienced a kind of „Lagerkoller“ where you get easily annoyed by some people. My highlight was the Mid Atlantic Ball.

Greta: I really liked the Atlantic crossing, though I wouldn’t have minded a bit more wind. We could sail most of the time anyway, so it was fine.

Jule: It was the first time having something like a rhythm for more than one week, in addition to great experiences like being in the mast; it was a wonderful time.

Joshua: It was very calming and it will be a very interesting and fun memory for the rest of my life.

Stella: I really liked the crossing because I had a lot of beautiful moments I will never forget, like the Atlantic Baptism or climbing up in the Mast.

Anna: I had so much time to think about so many things. I also made so many special memories that I will never forget.

Franka: I think the Atlantic crossing was the best time so far; I had so much fun and enjoyed every minute of it. It’s my personal highlight so far.

Would you like to be at sea in this moment again?

Kris: Actually not. I really enjoyed the time at sea, especially with my watch, but now at anchor, we get more time with the people that aren’t in our watch. That is something I really missed and enjoy at the moment.

Jule: Yes, I enjoyed the time on the ocean very much, but otherwise, sitting all together and seeing a completely new country is a great experience!

Stella: I‘m not sure because I really enjoyed the time at sea and we had a good daily routine, but I also like to explore other countries and cultures.

Joshua: Ja, nein, because being at sea is always great, but a little break after a trip this long is also very good.

Greta: Right now, lying at anchor feels like a break from the daily routine we‘ve developed these past few days and that’s really nice, but I think I’ll miss it soon.

Anna: Definitely not. Because now there’s time to be with all the people you want to all day. When we’re in our Watch System, that doesn’t really work.

Jonna: Yes and no. No because now I can spend more time with other people that are not in my watch. Yes because of all the other things.

Franka: Yes, definitely. I loved it so much and I really didn’t want this time to end. So I would love to be at sea for longer, but here in Aruba it’s also very nice.

Now you know a little bit more about how our current emotional status is.

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Greetings

Lenara: 🥳Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Oma. 🥳Deine Weltenseglerin

Onno: Grüße an Buddy… Bester Hund!

Wilma: Happy Birthday Karla! 🥳🎈

Sanja: Happy Birthday Claudia und ganz liebe Grüße 🥳🌎

Anna: Grüße an meine Familie und Freunde! Hoffe ihr hattet schöne Weihnachten ohne mich<3

Jonna: Ich grüße alle zu Hause, ich hoffe ihr hattet schöne Weihnachtsfeiertage!