The Blue Planet Odyssey had a symbolic start on May 31 when London’s iconic Tower Bridge was opened twice, first to let Aventura through into the Pool of London, half an hour later to bid us farewell at the start of the long voyage to Greenland and the Northwest Passage.
John and Linda Andrews’s Suilven, the other Blue Planet Odyssey boat to sail the northern route, will start from Oban, on the west coast of Scotland, on 14 June. Our first destination is also in Scotland, the port of Stromness in the Orkney Islands, 500 miles away across the North Sea. The light winds which we had at the start, that frustrated our intention of hoisting the special spinnaker with the Blue Planet Odyssey message of “the ocean, our future”, will continue for the next days, promising a welcome respite after weeks of preparations for this big adventure.
Last minute chat by the crew before setting off: Ivan and Jimmy Cornell, Nick Carter
