Dandan again
9 PM. Friday 3rd Feb Wind force three, sea calm, 25 degrees c. Been a reasonable day with occasional showers
It’s all happening here. At 2 O’clock this afternoon Artemis turned around and headed back the way she had come,
The captain came on the PA system to inform us, that a member of his crew had a life threatening condition; he was therefore heading for a rendezvous with a French navy helicopter, 120 miles off the coast of Martinique. Although the ship has extensive medical facilities, including Doctors, nurses and designated rooms and can cope with most things until the next port. The captain asked if there was a practicing obstetrician aboard, luckily there was. She confirmed, the young lady had an ectopic pregnancy and was in need of urgent help, beyond that available on Artemis.
So we speed through the night at 21.5 knots our top speed. The transfer is expected at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning. We do not have a landing pad here, so it will be a winch job, the rear of the ship has been shut down and people moved from a number of cabins, In case of accidents. Should be quite a spectacular show, let’s hope all goes well.
Unfortunately this incident necessitates a change of schedule; we will not go to the Azores, as planned, but straight back to Southampton. Tough, as long as the young lady is ok who cares? Although true to form some of our intrepid, self centred old dears are already whinging, they must have ectopic brains. And I could hazard a guess where they are located.
Barbados this is a proper Caribbean island, Steel bands, cricket, great beaches those on the Caribbean side have white sand, warm shallow waters coconut palms, water sports and bars, perfect holiday places, for all ages, including the rich and famous
.On the Atlantic seaboard, the swell that has rolled unhindered for over a thousand miles, crashes onto the rocky and yellow sanded coast. A Mecca for surfers and body boarders, the young and active thrive here; you can almost smell the adrenalin and testosterone.
We spent a glorious day touring right round the island, four of us in a people carrier, air con working flat out, Visited Sandy Lane Hotel and Golf Course. Rather nice actually, Accommodation cost from $2,700 to $25,000 US a night, so I suppose it is entitled to be.
Close by was the oldest church in Barbados, being decked out with the most exquisite arrangements of flowers and tropical fruits ready for Saturdays service where there neighbour, Sir Cliff Richard was singing his gospel songs as he regularly does, He appears well liked and respected and takes this his local church very seriously, giving generously of his time free of charge.
Stopped a couple of times for a cold beer and a meal, walked on idyllic beaches, Anne paddled, browsed souvenir shops, spent some pennies and generally loved it.
We visited the Kennington oval in Bridgetown scene of so many West Indian triumphs. now being turned into a modern 30,000 seated stadium in time for next years cricket world cup, Stopped at another stadium just down the road, Barbados were playing Jamaica and Brian Lara was batting, could see the fielders between the stands, oh for another day would have gone in. Time however beat us, a smashing way to finish as we head for the ship.
Barbados, magic go there when you can.
Funny thing! Anne and I have always said we know we are on holiday when we hear Bob Marley sing, here as elsewhere, there is plenty of Marley memorabilia on show, but throughout this entire journey, nowhere a Marley song, strange. We missed him..
Nine days of Atlantic Ocean, Southampton and home, can’t wait.
So has it been worthwhile? Yes. Would I do it again? Not without changes.
Will tell you of the helicopter rendezvous tomorrow, and give the above some more thought and perhaps expand on it at a later date.
Saturday 4th Feb. 9AM. raining again, Anne not happy, 27 degrees C, wind force 5, moderate swell. We are 3416 miles from Southampton and back on track
Helicopter arrived on the button, at 3 o’clock, went on deck, very dark, all we could see was the helicopters navigation lights and a searchlight This was superb flying, windy conditions, warm with rain squalls, made life difficult. Plus Artemis has a steel cable running down from the mast, to the back rail, effectively cutting the rear deck in half. The ship did not stop as the helicopter manoeuvred into position and an airman was lowered aboard, he then rode with the patient and somebody else,(the young ladies parents were aboard) as they were successfully winched up and into the helicopter, brave and skilled men these medics, well done the French navy and the crew of Artemis isn’t half bad, strange they had a drill and rehearsed this (without the copter of course) just three days ago
Have a good weekend all, may do one more email next week, we shall see
It’s all happening here. At 2 O’clock this afternoon Artemis turned around and headed back the way she had come,
The captain came on the PA system to inform us, that a member of his crew had a life threatening condition; he was therefore heading for a rendezvous with a French navy helicopter, 120 miles off the coast of Martinique. Although the ship has extensive medical facilities, including Doctors, nurses and designated rooms and can cope with most things until the next port. The captain asked if there was a practicing obstetrician aboard, luckily there was. She confirmed, the young lady had an ectopic pregnancy and was in need of urgent help, beyond that available on Artemis.
So we speed through the night at 21.5 knots our top speed. The transfer is expected at 3 o’clock tomorrow morning. We do not have a landing pad here, so it will be a winch job, the rear of the ship has been shut down and people moved from a number of cabins, In case of accidents. Should be quite a spectacular show, let’s hope all goes well.
Unfortunately this incident necessitates a change of schedule; we will not go to the Azores, as planned, but straight back to Southampton. Tough, as long as the young lady is ok who cares? Although true to form some of our intrepid, self centred old dears are already whinging, they must have ectopic brains. And I could hazard a guess where they are located.
Barbados this is a proper Caribbean island, Steel bands, cricket, great beaches those on the Caribbean side have white sand, warm shallow waters coconut palms, water sports and bars, perfect holiday places, for all ages, including the rich and famous
.On the Atlantic seaboard, the swell that has rolled unhindered for over a thousand miles, crashes onto the rocky and yellow sanded coast. A Mecca for surfers and body boarders, the young and active thrive here; you can almost smell the adrenalin and testosterone.
We spent a glorious day touring right round the island, four of us in a people carrier, air con working flat out, Visited Sandy Lane Hotel and Golf Course. Rather nice actually, Accommodation cost from $2,700 to $25,000 US a night, so I suppose it is entitled to be.
Close by was the oldest church in Barbados, being decked out with the most exquisite arrangements of flowers and tropical fruits ready for Saturdays service where there neighbour, Sir Cliff Richard was singing his gospel songs as he regularly does, He appears well liked and respected and takes this his local church very seriously, giving generously of his time free of charge.
Stopped a couple of times for a cold beer and a meal, walked on idyllic beaches, Anne paddled, browsed souvenir shops, spent some pennies and generally loved it.
We visited the Kennington oval in Bridgetown scene of so many West Indian triumphs. now being turned into a modern 30,000 seated stadium in time for next years cricket world cup, Stopped at another stadium just down the road, Barbados were playing Jamaica and Brian Lara was batting, could see the fielders between the stands, oh for another day would have gone in. Time however beat us, a smashing way to finish as we head for the ship.
Barbados, magic go there when you can.
Funny thing! Anne and I have always said we know we are on holiday when we hear Bob Marley sing, here as elsewhere, there is plenty of Marley memorabilia on show, but throughout this entire journey, nowhere a Marley song, strange. We missed him..
Nine days of Atlantic Ocean, Southampton and home, can’t wait.
So has it been worthwhile? Yes. Would I do it again? Not without changes.
Will tell you of the helicopter rendezvous tomorrow, and give the above some more thought and perhaps expand on it at a later date.
Saturday 4th Feb. 9AM. raining again, Anne not happy, 27 degrees C, wind force 5, moderate swell. We are 3416 miles from Southampton and back on track
Helicopter arrived on the button, at 3 o’clock, went on deck, very dark, all we could see was the helicopters navigation lights and a searchlight This was superb flying, windy conditions, warm with rain squalls, made life difficult. Plus Artemis has a steel cable running down from the mast, to the back rail, effectively cutting the rear deck in half. The ship did not stop as the helicopter manoeuvred into position and an airman was lowered aboard, he then rode with the patient and somebody else,(the young ladies parents were aboard) as they were successfully winched up and into the helicopter, brave and skilled men these medics, well done the French navy and the crew of Artemis isn’t half bad, strange they had a drill and rehearsed this (without the copter of course) just three days ago
Have a good weekend all, may do one more email next week, we shall see
posted by Sheila at
22:03
1 Comments:
Fabby Dandan...again. Loved the logistical description of the brain among some of the seniors. Very familiar with that, I (sadly) am. Rescue folks are pretty much the same the world over...generally impressive and caring, and not the least interested in a photo op. Thank goodness.
By
Chance, at 07/02/2006, 05:07
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