MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

The best place in the world

“I'm not actually feeling homesick but the best place in the world to live in, ?is the Falklands; second best, for its friendliness, scenery and people, Scotland”.

“The Falklands can be complicated, but it's a great place to grow children and that's where Thomas, William, Frederick, TWF, will be brought up, mother's promise”.

When almost three years ago Short and Alison Davies left the Falklands heading for the northern hemisphere in their 30 feet yacht "Alpha Carinae" the objective was to see the world and complete a life's endeavor of 23,000 miles of meridian sailing equivalent to the circumnavigation of the globe.

In early next June the couple and the seaworthy "Alpha Carinae" will be back in Stanley, with a beautiful two years old toddler who's home is sailing and watching playful dolphins, plus loads of enviable experience that Alison enthusiastically describes as a return of "my faith in the human race".

The Short family is now in Montevideo preparing for the last leg of the trip to the Falklands, a ten days trip beginning Sunday May 26th. if "the right winds allow us". "We didn't experience a single negative incident or come across unhelpful people; nothing ever disappeared from the boat; we walked, bussed and mingled in cities we were advised to avoid because they were supposedly dangerous", says Alison. "On the contrary we were helped, encouraged all along the trip, in the different ports, marinas, and even at sea. We received gifts, expressions of friendliness and even food, fish from the most humble people, and when Thomas appeared, no door ever remained closed".

Thomas was born February 7th. 2000, in Trinidad Island; his coming to this world was not easy, nor for Alison. He had to spend three weeks in Intensive Care, but three months later, and forcing medical consultants to re-write some of the theories in their books, Thomas flew to England with Mom.

Short had to contract 63 year old father in law, who had never sailed in his life, to help cross the North Atlantic from the Caribbean. "Actually he managed very well, and living together in a small boat, I can assure he's the Davies family member whom I now know best", says Short.

Alison and Short then spent a year in England working to recuperate finances, seriously undermined by the unexpected complications in Trinidad, and to give convalescent Thomas time to build up into the excellent seaman and companion he's proved to be.

"Land sickness"

Since for the last year home has been the reduced area of the "Alpha Carinae", Thomas tends to easily get tired when on shore and may even suffer some "land sickness", but his communication capacity is remarkable wherever he goes. Dad has taught him to kiss ladies hands and thumbs up when happy and proud.

"However it's mainly interpersonal adult communication", explains the proud father. "Thomas must of have met 500 people in his short life, a very high number for a toddler and all of them adults. So he's used to being touched and cuddled, and made a fuss of, which not necessarily helps when he rarely meets a child his age".

There's no special diet for the young seaman, he shares the same food as the rest of the family and "loves his chili and carne, with beans and even curry, as well as fish", which is quiet common aboard the "Alpha Carina" that trawls, successfully, two lines.

"Alpha Carina" is after all quiet a boat. Short estimates that besides his six years of labor to make her family seaworthy, the equipment and tools on board demanded an investment equivalent to £ 25.000 including a radar with alarm to avoid surprises. Besides she carries sufficient fuel to sail 1.500 miles at an average five knots and kerosene for daily cooking. Well managed drinking water consumption is estimated in two liters per person, per day, with the sea and tropical rain showers also helping in more practical aspects. For example sea water is used for boiling potatoes and even rice. For example, "when crossing the North Atlantic, from Antigua to Azores, it was 24 days at sea, with my father in law we had a different meal every day, including tomatoes, potatoes, cabbage, which you only need to properly store", points out Short.

In the Millennium communications are no problem. While in the Southern hemisphere Short talks every morning on the radio with Mom in Stanley, and in the northern hemisphere with a ham radio who then e-mails the Falklands. The opposite to keep in touch with Alison's parents in England.

"Besides we had a laptop on board and when onshore we go to any cyber café with the floppy disk to pick our e-mail and send all our messages".

Scotland second choice

When we asked Short what most impressed him of the journey, the answer was quick. "As far as friendliness is concerned top honors for the Brazilians, the South Americans overall; regarding scenery, Norway and the fiords, when we sailed up to 70 degrees north in the Artic, it was fantastic". However, "Scotland was second best in both, so after the Falklands, if I ever have to choose it will be Scotland".

For Alison, "it was the people, wonderful, amazing, all very respectful and so kind. In one of the many places we visited in Brazil we were received with a banana cake; at Santos a very modest man left us a lorry in the boat for Thomas; near Portugal fishermen insisted in giving us fish, as I said before the trip returned my faith in human nature".

"And when back in the Falklands, what is next?"

"Well, we have the house in Stanley to paint and make maintenance repairs, but I would like to buy a piece of land, build something small where we can spend time on our own. This has been a nine years experience for me, six preparing and three sailing. I believe I'm the first Islander to have accomplished the 23,000 miles sailing in such a small vessel".

Ever curious Alison is more direct, "explore inland South America; there's so much to learn, to discover", and obviously look after Thomas. "I'm sure Thomas will adapt to life on shore and begin mixing with children his age. It's funny because in Santos when the boat was taken ashore to check the hull and for painting, Thomas began crying, it was like a shock for him, it was "home" being taken away. When he's tired he tells us he wants to go back to the boat (home)".

"Although I'm also certain Thomas will miss his friends at sea. He sits in the bow and looks at the dolphins swimming along side, the flying fish, the sea birds, it's a ecstatic experience for him, or for anybody?".