Sobering Thoughts - Old Age and Missing Yachtsmen

We are back in England visiting my aging parents. Far from our easy life in warm, hospitable Turkey we are seeing how hard and sad it is to be getting old. Dad is struggling to manage daily tasks and Mum is finding it hard to look after him. Brother Philip is 100 miles away with his own difficult life to lead and I have feelings of guilt. Do they really want me to live my own life as they claim or should we abandon Transatlantic plans to stay with them here? I know I will return to Petronella but that doesn't make it any easier.

Last week we finally told them of our Transatlantic adventure. They were quiet and asked us about our plans. Were we and the boat competent to make the crossing? When would we next be home to see them? We have to do it though because if we didn't there would be more regrets and even resentment from me. And then the sad, sad Cheeki Rafiki story. Here in Hampshire in the heart of the yachting world it has hit hard. Four experienced crew in a tested boat. What might have happened and how might we have dealt with it? There are, I think, some circumstances that you cannot plan for. Maybe this was one such event? There is a risk, all you can do is try to minimise it and plan as carefully as you can. So sad for them, their families and my home town of Southampton where the boat was normally berthed.