Pantheon of heroes

Tomorrow is the end of this trip, and today is sitting quietly on a buoy behind the Isle of Sheppey with 1,150 nautical miles under our belt, and taking stock a little (as well as making plans for returning to land).

There are a number of individuals who went out of their way to be helpful, and without whom we might not be here today.

Fleetwood: Bruno & Denno aka Compass Marine Ltd of Garstang, for fitting in work on our boat around their already full schedule - including evenings & weekends - and shinning up our mast to fit a new wind indicator at a moment's notice.

Fleetwood: Adam aka Silvercrest, for sourcing new batteries the same day, despite there being a severe shortage due to everyone going to their boats & caravans for the first time this year.

Glenarm: Billy the harbourmaster, for catching our lines, advice on many things including bus times to the Giant's Causeway, moving us to a less bouncy berth, and best of all finding us a company to repair our hatch before we'd even staggered back into his harbour.

Glenarm: Steven at Red Bay Boats who came to Glenarm the same day on his way home, armed with sealant, and helped us re-seal the main hatch which had been leaking badly.

Caledonian Canal: the Lock-Keepers for being constantly cheerful and helpful, despite being asked the same questions no doubt by hundreds of boats.

Eyemouth: Jim Scott of Coastal Marine Boatbuilders and his man with the oxy-acetylene torch who repaired our raw-water copper pipe within 15 minutes of us turning up at their yard with broken pipe in hand and sad faces.

North Shields to Lowestoft: Lesley's cousin David who came for sailing and especially the 24-hour cruise from Grimsby to Lowestoft, and got 95% motor-sailing plus a F7-8 approaching Lowestoft, and still was smiling all the time.

Brightlingsea: the harbourmaster & team for their cheerful assistance with berthing and water taxis.

Finally ... SIRENA IV, and we cannot put it better than the last sentence in Eric Hiscock's book about his third round-world trip "increased affection and respect for the fine little ship which had done all that we had asked of her".