A sleek green ketch flying the Australian flag made its way slowly into Dundas Harbour and dropped anchor close to us. Standing out on its lifelines was a white banner with a large number 16 and the logo of the Atlantic Odyssey. Stepping back from the wheel, the helmsman waved at us with a wide grin on his face.
Mike” I called across, “welcome to the Arctic! Long time no see, and long way from Martinique too.”
“Indeed, but why take the Panama Canal to the Pacific when the Northwest Passage would do just as well.” The first time we met was in Suva, Fiji, in 1978. Nine years later he showed up in Las Palmas, and sailed in the ARC. Ever since then Michael Thurston has been roaming the world on his 48 foot Drina. The last time we met was at the finish of last year’s Atlantic Odyssey in Martinique. He had quizzed me about my own sailing plans, but I wasn’t really expecting to meet him here.
Then I realized that showing up here in the Northwest Passage shouldn’t have been surprised me. It is, after all, so…. Mike Thurston.
