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Women of The Crossing
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Day One - Tuesday
The fireworks were let off at the press launch with the RNLI giving us our personal flares (they hope to encourage all kiters to carry one) and best of all letting us all have a test run.
The short hop to Newquay airport had us all in high spirits - sweets and Red Bull are not a good combination for a group of seven excited girls! In true superstar style we had a plane to ourselves for the stunning flight over to the Scillies. Following the winding Cornish coastline murmurs of excitement resounded through the aircraft until the pilots turned, and began to fly out over Lands End. A fearful silence gripped everyone as the expanse of water carried on and on. The distance and challenge of what we had all agreed to hit us right between the eyes. I really didn’t remember it looking so far. Eventually a voice piped up “That’s an awful lot of water.”
Springtime in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly forces even the most serious of folks to loosen up, relax a bit, and even begin to believe in pixies! Inviting crystal clear blue waters, hedgerows bursting with wildflowers, lush greenery, canopies covering winding road - the stuff fairytales are made of. For a moment Fiona Wedenig thought her dream of becoming a princess would be realized. You could swear that you are not in England anymore; its much more like a Mediterranean island than a British isle.
The fantastic hospitality in the Scillies was second to none. Our hosts were Buckingham Guest House, the Garrison campsite, and Nick and Bryonny at the Mincarlo, who put on an amazing BBQs served up with sunshine, beer, and smiles.
Day 2 – Wednesday
More sunshine. The bad weather and gales forecasted seemed impossible. The harbour master had earlier predicted that Thursday was looking to be our best bet! Meanwhile, the girls had a late breakfast, wandered around settling into the slow pace of life very quickly. So much so we all took a long time gearing up in the afternoon to go for a sail, and the 14knt sea breeze had disappeared. But, our hero, captain Simon waved his wand again and a tow rope appeared, and we were pulled around on his boat quite happily for a few hours.
That night there was a huge checking of forecasts on the Internet and a specialist forecast for our 70mile stretch from the met office. Once they were all put together and the main reason we were all there came into focus. 14knts SE turning SSE 14knts by 10am S by 11am and the perfect SW 14knt by 12pm. The high pressure front was holding until midday on Friday and the sea state was a mere 1m swell with no precipitation. We were on for a go especially with the swell forecast to pick up to 3m and 28knt winds with rain for Friday.
As the likelihood of a go sunk in, uncertainties and doubts crept forward. We all had a different way of preparing for the mental and physical challenge set in front of us. Cindy had her usual relaxed outlook, “I was very curious to see how our bodies and minds would react to it, not a feeling of apprehension, just curiosity.”
Laurel said, “Before the girls arrived I was convinced there was no way I could achieve a 70 mile crossing, which is an amazing testament to the power of positive team energy.”
I personally hadn’t had too much time to think about it until the flight over. But once on land again I was convinced we could all make it. Having every one there made it much easier to be positive.
