, and be free to cruise some of the Greek Islands.
We had reserved rooms near the marina where the Millennium Odyssey fleet would be berthed. The town, about an hour out of Rome, is Civitavecchia, the delightful
hotel is Sun Bay Park. It helps to be Italian to pronounce Civitavecchia and we have had some good laughs listening to Charlie get wound up to get it out. A woman in the
airport, listening to Charlie practice aloud, asked Stu and Julie if they knew Charlie and I never did get a clear idea of what their response was.
The marina complex was excellent, with good docks, nice shops, restaurants, rest rooms and a beautiful yacht club where the closing ceremonies, prize giving and dinner were held for the
fleet that finished their circumnavigation in Rome.
Our hotel was about a mile from the marina. We walked back and forth along the two lane,
high traffic, high speed highway until a pedestrian was hit and killed during our stay. Jimmy Cornell's niece and her children were unfortunate witnesses of the accident. The episode
illustrates that probably the most dangerous activities for any of us involve traffic, whether on wheels or in the water.
The prize giving and dinner at the Civitavecchia Yacht Club was the last time we would have an opportunity to be together in a group for a social function. The yacht club did a fine job
in their elegant surroundings and the fleet members spruced up their appearances.
Part of the fun of a rally is the inside jokes that develop during the course of the journey.
As each entrant was supposed to keep track of his engine hours used for propulsion during each leg versus hours for battery charging, and report this daily. Everyone looked at the
reports with a critical eye. Some of the participants are intensely competitive, some are relaxed with placement being unimportant. Bearing this in mind the pencils with Pinochio's
head, found at a sidewalk stand in Rome, were more than appropriate for Charlie and Stu to ceremoniously present to each of the entrants. Everyone got a big laugh out this diversion
after the competitive, and sometimes highly emotional, prizes were given.
Que Sera, Sera took home a prize for being the most helpful boat in the fleet, an honor well
deserved. They were there for everyone even when their help meant missing something they really wanted to do. Don and Lois Babson have done a lot of the Odyssey alone, only from
time to time having family, friends or guests aboard.
Sea Gem received the Saadia Rees Trophy given as a tribute to the Israeli man who started
the Millennium Odyssey, on his boat ADORIS, in Ft. Lauderdale,with us. He had to abort his trip on the way to Panama from Jamaica. Saadia was very ill. None of us realized he was
even sick. He flew to his home in Israel and died a short time later. His exuberance and love of sailing will live on with all of us who met him. He loved the sea and had a lifelong ambition
to go on a prolonged voyage, he just waited a little too long. Over and over we see this point illustrated and are thankful we have had the opportunity to do this with good health
and sound minds. Some of you may question the sound mind idea.
From the beginning of the Millennium Odyssey in August of 1998, the plan was to take the
flame which was lighted at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, around the world, and deliver it to the Vatican in Rome during Easter Week in 2000. The original flame was
delivered not only boat to boat, but to communities of all faiths, in all the nations we visited, as a symbol of good will and PEACE.
Jimmy Cornell came through, as usual, with flying colors. On April 26, 2000 our group sat in a roped off special section of St. Peter's square and watched as Jimmy and the Canary Island
Sponsor hand delivered a lighted lamp to Pope John Paul II, during one of the moving services of the Great Jubilee--2000.
After that service was over we went to a small private audience with Cardinal Carlo Furno,
the Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher and also Governor General Count Ludovico Carducci, at the headquarters of the order in the Vatican. There the Cardinal was
presented with another lighted Millennium Lamp and after the ceremony we had canapés and refreshments. The Cardinal was most gracious, spoke excellent English and on his exit from
the gathering stopped by my chair and thanked me for coming. After this reception, we hit the streets of Rome for a few hours before we assembled again.
Our next official event was a reception at Campidoglio Palace with the President of the Rome Municipal Council. The president happened to be a woman and after the formalities I was
able to convey to her that I was pleased to see a woman in high public office in Italy. She laughed heartily and by sign showed that she understood and was pleased with my
comment. It is amazing how much communication is possible on a social level with little language skill.
Archeologists are presently excavating under the Campidoglio Palace. We were privileged
to be among the first to be able to tour the excavations of another level of Rome.
We are back to the home base of many of the rally participants like Alfredo Giacon and his
wife Nicoletta. They, and their boat JANCRIS, are now home. They have been spark plugs in our group, especially when Alfredo plays opera at high volume over the VHF at
appropriate times. Charlie even bought one of their favorites and whenever we play it we will think of their smiling faces.
Unfortunately Sam had to leave before the Vatican ceremonies but he was able to catch a tour of Rome with us. Charlie and I have sailed through the Third World, with all the
assorted germs contained there, and managed to escape illness until we got back into the very cosmopolitan world of Rome. We both came down with a cold and were happy to be
going back to Sea Gem on the Island of Crete where we could rest and recuperate from our very busy schedule of trying to see and do everything in a very short time.
The ceremonies in Rome concluded the Millennium Odyssey. It is both euphoric and sad for we realize that some of the good friendships we have established will only continue over
e-mail or by notes and Christmas cards. This adventure has opened our eyes to so many parts of the world we would not have had an opportunity to see on such a personal level.
As I have said before there is a great difference in sailing to a place and just traveling to a place. A sailing trip is a voyage in many ways, and because of the trials, tribulations and fun
you share with fellow sailors the camaraderie is built quickly and is very strong. Our next log will be from the beautiful Greek Islands. From the Sea Gem on Crete, until later. . .
The
whirlwind, mind expanding tour of Israel was over. We
headed for the closing ceremonies in Rome, covering the miles by
air instead of by sea. We left Sea Gem in Crete so that we could
fly back after our tour of Israel, and trip to