Six months ago I yet again set sail with Sea Shepherd, this time to protect Antarctic waters from illegal fishing and poaching of Patagonian/Antarctic Toothfish aka Chilean Seabass.
So after leaving Wellington at the beginning of December, I have sailed four oceans, from the ice of Antarctica to the searing heat of the equator off the coast of West Africa, almost 20000 nautical miles sailed, over 70km of illegal gillnets hauled and confiscated , epic record breaking chase and then watching an illegal poaching vessel sink, rescuing her crew and handing them to authorities all the while watching the world sit up and take notice of illegal fishing in the Antarctic... Priceless
Setting foot on land has felt surreal and somewhat overwhelming. I have also done so as a single man, my girlfriend not willing to wait another five months for me (I was away for five months last summer which I spent in the Gulf of Mexico on campaign) I do not hold this against her, I could not in good conscience expect her to after only being home for six weeks over the last year. C'est la vie.
So now at the end of the month I'm taking a break from Sea Shepherd to go back home to the UK and work my ass off so that I can make some money to claw myself out of the financial shit storm I'm returning to, so that I may rejoin the ships in September. Have trial set up in Brighton but a definite job if I ant it in London, so will see.
I'm really looking forward to getting back to the UK and seeing my best friend, I'll also be celebrating my birthday as I do so.
Stay strong, never surrender,