When the 40 days were o'er... thank you!

Pretty much completed washing all of my kit.  Soaked my boots for 3 hours to remove the salt, great sunshine for everything to dry.  A couple of nights sleeping has done wonders, although it feels strange to wake up in a bedroom in the morning and not be sharing a cabin with Brian!  The land has just about stopped swaying.

We had a great team for sailing around Britain.  I'd like to thank Peter as skipper and Stella who were fabulous hosts for our voyage; I'm grateful to the crew too for coping with a sailing vicar!  Brian, aka Debbie, Jill and Mike: it was good to meet you and sail with you all.  In all it was a wonderful experience facing so many emotions and challenges, learning and experiencing so much under the banner of Cornish Cruising who made it all possible.

On the circumnavigation I mentioned the 'Pass The Port' sponsorships, where friends chose their favourite port or part of the coastline and supported me in favour of the CofE 'Climate Justice Fund'; thank you.   www.climatejusticefund.org

Others chose to sponsor miles of the voyage from which I am able to support the new solar panels on St.Mary's Church Hall in Warsash.  Having mentioned the christian names from 'Pass the Port' in the blog, I'll list those others I know of who've sponsored a mile or supported me in other ways below; thank you all for your kindness.  Both the types of sponsorship have helped me offset something of the carbon footprint involved in sailing around Britain.

I would not be able to undertake this ministerial development leave without the support of my colleagues in the church, a great team to whom I'm grateful and principally among them Philippa, my assistant curate, who is continuing to work hard in my absence.  I'm sure the parish won't even notice I'm away!  My development leave sailing mentor is Nigel off whom I've bounced my crazy ideas and who is kindly guiding my training through to passing the Yachtmaster Offshore Exam.  Then of course, my prinicipal support has come from my family, Libby and my boys, for whom my appreciation and love has grown through my absence.

I value the corporate support which has been afforded to my development leave by the Ecclesiastical Insurance Company (Ministry Bursary Award) www.ecclesiasatical.com , the Diocese of Portsmouth www.portsmouth.anglican.org and by Hook with Warsash Parochial Church Council www.stmarywarsash.org.uk

Finally, I thank you for following this voyage on the blog.  You've been very patient with me, I hope you've learned a little about sailing and maybe something about me too!  Perhaps it's whetted your appetite to venture on to the seas of our magnificant and wild coast?

Next I must reflect on the themes that stand out for me beyond the sailing.  The ways the voyage has added to my personal and ministerial development.  I'm pondering a principal theme of  '40 days and Liberty', how it gives time to break free and appreciate what is really important for future life and ministry.  This followed closely by Trust, Steadfastness /Perseverance, and Navigating Life!  Send me your thoughts!

I'll sign off with my thanks to God and to you all, and with my appreciation for the kind support and sponsorship of those below: Pat, Michael, Jenny, Miranda, Pat, Glenda, Carol, John, June, Roger, Margaret, Pam, Rosemary, Gill, David, Paul, Kay, Barbara, Lawrence, Roger, Sally, Caroline, Dave, Rose, Mike, Felicity, Brenda, Nick, Mike, Pat, Marion, Peter, Jim, Marion, Anon, Martyn, Jeff, Eileen, Anon, Bob, Brenda, Heather, Miranda, Rital, David, Gill, Bryan, Pam, Tony, Jan, Sian, Bruce, Anon, Rosemary, Pam, Anon, Anon, Richard, Nigel, Ian, Jen; and of course Christopher RIP whom I remember with affection. Not forgetting the young people of the church Pathfinders with Suzi and Ian and Roz.

So that's it, the circumnavigation is complete. As we'd say on the VHF: 40 Days Around Britain... Out!