Ramsey harbour keeper Tony Thompson has completed the adventure of a lifetime after sailing more than 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic.
64-year-old Tony joined a crew of seven aboard a 45ft Jeanneau yacht for the 3,086-nautical-mile voyage from Gran Canaria to St Lucia in the Caribbean as part of the world-famous ARC rally.
Remarkably, the crew had never met before stepping aboard to begin the three-week journey.
Fulfilling a lifelong ambition, Tony said the crossing had always been on his bucket list. “I wanted to experience the vastness of the ocean,” he said. “Most of the time there wasn’t another vessel in sight – and beneath us there was 5km of water under the keel.”
Not Plain Sailing
Life on board revolved around watch systems, cooking and maintenance, but the trip was not without drama. A torn mainsail had to be painstakingly hand-stitched at sea, only to rip again after being hoisted.
The most frightening moment came during a night-time squall in mid-Atlantic when a huge wave crashed into the cockpit, completely submerging Tony at the helm and tearing safety equipment from its bracket.
Harnessed on and moments away from unclipping at the end of his watch, he clung to the wheel pedestal as his life jacket automatically inflated.
Atlantic Crossing
“The biggest fear of an Atlantic crossing is being swept overboard in high seas – especially at night,” he said. “It certainly concentrated the mind and will be a memory I’ll never forget.”
There were lighter moments too, including catching a two-metre marlin which was on the menu within the hour. With fresh water running low towards the end of the voyage, the crew even resorted to washing in seawater.
Despite the challenges, Tony said the experience lived up to every expectation. “It was a wonderful adventure. It was everything I wanted it to be.”
Deputy Harbour Master Gary Lewin said the harbours team had been fascinated to hear of Tony’s exploits, adding that many members share a strong affinity with the sea through both their work and personal pursuits.
