The Belem touched land in Boston this week – a successful ending to the first lap of her long journey to Quebec. After last week's fits of temper, the Atlantic regained its composure and a more peaceful mood so, in the three days run-up to Boston, the crew, armed with sundry rags and polishes, took the time to provide the Belem with the ultimate in beauty care; they also staged a “man at sea” drill – which meant threshing about in the calm but definitely cool ocean (17°C) ... and suddenly making out, once everyone was back on board, the unmistakable shape of a shark's fin slicing the waters !

 

At 8 a.m. on Thursday, the motor launch carrying the harbour pilot drew up alongside the Belem and Captain Robert J. McCabe climbed aboard (and if that doesn't sound like a name out of a Herman Melville or James Fennimore Cooper story, then nothing ever will...). Under his expert conduct, the ship sailed towards Boston Harbour, escorted by two launches and a fire-boat belching great geysers of water from its massive hoses. After a pause at an out-of-way quay to sort out the paperwork and fill up with food supplies, the Belem finally moored at Rowes Wharf.

 

While the crew took it in turns to visit Boston, the Belem was opened to the public on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday evening, after a magnificent supper at the Rowes Wharf Hotel, courtesy of Natixis, sponsors of the whole Boston event, the Belem took to the sea again at 11 p.m. This time, 20 guest passengers came on board to share with the crew the next lap of the voyage – bound for Halifax, Nova Scotia!