Message in a bottle: A nice story for the festive season!
by Association Class40 21 Dec 2017 15:52 GMT
21 December 2017
Robbie Dickerson finds a message in a bottle © Robbie Dickerson
While she was having a walk on the beach, Robbie Dickerson found a message in a bottle. She starts her research, even if the message was not clearly readable. She understood that the bottle was thrown into the sea by Gilbert Chollet, in December 2010, during the Route du Rhum race.
The bottle, before its opening Gilbert's message the bottle is now back in France
Thinking first that Gilbert passed away, Robbie contacts the Class to get the address of Mr Chollet's family. But Gilbert is alive and remembers that he threw the bottle, at about 600 miles south-west of the Azores, almost halfway of the race.
He relates, "I was participating in the 2010 Route du Rhum when I threw that bottle. On the letter, I wrote my address, the name of the race and I asked to be advised, with a postcard, if the bottle was found.
"That happened 7 years ago, and I had forgotten all about this anecdote, even if this Route du Rhum was one of the best adventures of my life.
"A the end of the summer, many tropical storms brought beach litter in Florida. Robbie Starnes Dickerson found the bottle while she was looking for sea turtles trapped in the debris.
"I have always lived in Saint Malo and always sailed. Many friends of mine participated in the Route du Rhum and encouraged me to register. At 60 years old, I was ready to take up this challenge. I chose the Class40 and it is probably the best idea I had. I found in this class an extraordinary welcome. Everybody, board, skippers, agreed to make time for me. Thank to them, I raced in very good conditions.
"And the Class40 is still involved as an intermediary between Robbie Starnes Dickerson and myself. It seems that the loop is closed!
"I wish a long life to the Class40 and thank you all!"
Robbie, from the USA, and Gilbert, from France, are now friends on social networks and in regular contact. What a nice story at Christmas time!