Five years ago the 100% Sun Wind Water project started in Oslo. By sailing back to where we started, I wanted to manifest the "grand finale" and close the circle. The arrival into Oslo and Aker Brygge was magic on so many levels. After sailing some 1.150 nautical miles this season, and a total of 7.660 miles since we left Oslo that day on June 5th, 2018.
That sail-off ceremony – on World Environment Day 2018 – was crowned by Admiral Louise Dedichen from The Royal Norwegian Navy. The sail-in arrival in Oslo this year was crowned by a beautiful welcoming committee – a herd of free and wild dolphins. I sailed into Oslo singlehandedly. No big crowd waving, no friends waiting, no partners, no admiral, journalist, or photographer on the pier. But a heard of dolphins – far cooler and yes, totally unexpected. Suddenly they showed up next to the boat. They followed me along the short distance left into Aker Brygge – in the absolute center of Norway's busy capital.
The dolphins popped up just next to the boat and it took me a little while to get the phone and camera going but I did get them...wow! Hi guys!
They were swimming around me – or I sailed around them – for quite a while and other boats were coming closer to enjoy this beautiful and extraordinary scenery. A boat full of tourists passed by and the excitement onboard was monumental. (See the article about the dolphins popping up in Oslo here. In Norwegian here)
After that very symbolic and emotional experience, I was overwhelmed. I had to sail around a little and think about what I just experienced, before docking the boat at the guest marina. Wow, were these free animals here randomly, or did they come to say hi for some kind of environmental encouragement reason? Possibly not the latter, but I will always connect it to something along that symbolic thought and memory no matter what.
A few minutes later a herd of not-so-free, nor wild, human beings left the harbor. They were locked into an oversized mega cruise ship. The emissions pumping out from the chimneys were not beautiful at all. This moment was also quite symbolic. For another reason. I could not avoid taking this symbolic picture:
The dolphins were possibly there because of successfully cleaned seawater in the Oslofjord, after the polluted crisis years some decades ago. The cruise guests were possibly there because they were turning a blind eye to the realities of the climate crisis.
I did learn from my ocean researcher friends that about 300+ mega-ships are cruising around the world today. A majority of them are still powered with the absolute dirtiest fossil oil available and wash their exhaust gases into the sea via so-called "seawater scrubbing" (washing the toxic exhaust soup into the sea - see article below). In addition, the largest ships visit several of the world's most sensitive water areas. One can assume that the absolute most luxurious luxury is being cultivated onboard, and possibly also the image that humanity is still in control of the situation.
There is obviously still a lot left to do. Maybe I shouldn't end this project after all... I am leaving Oslo tomorrow. My son and daughter are checking in as crew for a few days. I will get back with a summary blog after allowing thoughts and impressions to sink in a little.
Thank you all and everything for these five years. Thank you for the adventure and the long line of memories. I truly feel blessed. - - -
