November 5th, 2023, 7:50 AM Yesterday afternoon’s arrival in Athens marked the end of an arduous passage. The last seven hours before reaching Athens
November 5th, 2023, 7:50 AM
Yesterday afternoon’s arrival in Athens marked the end of an arduous passage. The last seven hours before reaching Athens tested our mettle with the most intense storm we’ve encountered.
Looking back on the voyage that began on September 30th from Dubai—delayed nearly two weeks to catch a favorable weather window—the journey’s challenges were relentless. A catastrophic electrical system failure early on could have been disastrous, but the solidarity and expertise of friends across the seas who remotely reprogrammed our entire energy ecosystem were nothing short of a miracle.
Navigating through fishermen’s nets became a recurring ordeal, demanding underwater escapades against strong currents to free our propeller—experiences both harrowing and bonding.
The most harrowing encounter, however, was with pirates. The negotiations that ensued were life-defining, far beyond the complexities of any business deal I had ever known. In those moments, my son’s future, our freedom, and lives hung in the balance. Emerging unscathed, I recognized that my business acumen had morphed into a tool for survival.
The remainder of our journey might seem mundane in comparison, yet the camaraderie and problem-solving following the pirate encounter reinforced the value of a unified team. Ahmed’s physical joining of the crew in Jeddah was symbolic of his constant support, helping navigate us through both technical challenges and pirate negotiations from day one.
System breakdowns, brutal storms, and exhausting night shifts could not deter us, surrounded by a crew of steadfast resolve.
Docking in Athens was a moment of profound emotion—greeted by friends whose joy and relief mirrored our own, a testament to our shared humanity.
The festivities that followed our docking were a blur of happiness, the passage of time marked by laughter and the clinking of glasses.