Time as quirky as it may be

Ship: Regina Maris
Date: 10th of December 2024
Position: Atlantic Ocean
Geographical Position: 16°03.661N 037°47.874W
Etmal: 132nm
Total: 3739nm

Here we go again. Today is day 53 on board the Regina Maris and we are almost halfway through the Atlantic crossing.

Almost two months flew away in a hurry. It’s been easy to lose track of time with all the different countries we‘ve visited, but now‘s come the time to realise how long we’ve spent together and that we‘ve still got four months left to go. Crazy right?

The concept of time has always been something I couldn’t quite wrap my mind around. Especially on board, time has become something really weird. You leave land behind and a few days later, you‘re in a new country.

It feels like you‘re stuck in a matrix and not like you‘re that far away from home. You just see some type of blue for a bit and don’t see the distance we’re travelling like you would in a car. But then you notice it’s getting warmer and sunnier and you have no choice but to see the distance we‘ve put between us and home.

Even though I think the term home is also something we put a pause on for six months, calling a big sailing ship your home is something to be proud of and not many people get to experience that.

Right now I am sitting in a beanbag on the poop deck, enjoying the warm sun with beautiful music and the sound of waves.

This voyage truly makes me appreciate the little things. I have grown fond of watching everyone say good morning to each other. It’s the same thing every morning, but it’s so valuable to hear a sweet good morning and to be able to say this every day. Enjoying nature as calm or as wild as it may be, I always catch myself holding my breath.

It’s crazy to just casually look out the window and see the ocean. Even if I see this every day, I will never stop being speechless because of its power and beauty.

We as a group have grown together and there are so many memories to keep and to make. The mid Atlantic ball is being planned and Christmas and New Year’s Eve aren’t that far away anymore.

Still, being without your regular surroundings took some time for many of us to get used to. This will be my first Christmas without my family and our usual traditions. Everyone has a different type of homesickness, but for most people here on board, it’s not wanting to go home, but missing a person, a routine or simply in my case: A real piano.

I love playing the piano and it’s great that there’s an e-piano on board, but it will never feel the same. Playing the guitar has been my solution and singing will always cheer somebody up.

The days are short, but packed full of memories and wanting to tell this, to your parents for example or others like siblings and friends happens to me every day. Not being able to do so can be sad, but seeing how fast these two months flew by, shows that time, as mentioned above, is a weird quirky thing that can’t really decide if it wants to move fast or slow. Maybe a bit of both.

Here on the Reggie, we live day by day, step by step and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Enjoying the time we have is the best and only thing we can do and we’ll be back sooner than we‘ll realise.

And with that, 2024 is coming to an end, good night;
Anneke Jolien, over and out

Bemerkungen:

Marilen: Hi Family, jetzt bei der großen Atlantiküberquerung ohne wirklich was Neues, fange ich an, euch richtig zu vermissen, besonders jetzt zur Weihnachtszeit. Den Absatz mit dem Klavier oben könnte man so auch eins zu eins auf mich beziehen, auch Lumpi fehlt mir (wäre es nicht möglich, ihn per Paket zu verschicken?). Hab‘ euch lieb <3