Part 12: Bristol - Sexy Fridtjof Nansen

22.08.2022-09.09.2022)

After crossing onto British soil and several train journeys, including past beautiful Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogoch, I spend a night in Birmingham due to time constraints.

To capture the english atmosphere, I watch one big rivalry football games in the pub around the corner: Liverpool vs Manchester United. No hooligan brawl (a bit disappointing), but a super cosy football evening with a few beers and conversations with locals.

The next day I finally make my way to Bristol. I walk straight to the dock, where I am greeted by the refitting crew of the Fridtjof Nansen. After a short safety tour, I get right into work - hammer time in the rust mines. The work is dirty, the accommodation near the ship in camping containers is minimalist, a construction site flair all around - I love it! This is the change of scenery I've been waiting for. The following days continue in the same manner - we restore the ship in a normal working day rhythm, I learn a lot about the function, restoration and maintenance of tall ships. We usually spend the evenings in the pub or with games or films. It is incredibly refreshing to immerse myself in this community of interesting, crazy and cosmopolitan people who have one thing in common - their passion for sailing ships.

Since I took almost no photos during this period, here is a bit of history:

The Fridtjof Nansen is a two mast topsail schooner, built as a cargo gaff schooner in 1919. After countless conversions and changing owners, she came into the care of Hanns Temme in 1981. Since then, she has been part of numerous expeditions, mostly sail training with young people, around the world. In 2022, she was finally bought by Seas Your Future and shipped to Bristol.

It is named after Fridtjof Wedel-Jarlsberg Nansen (1861-1930), a Norwegian explorer, discoverer, diplomat, Nobel Peace Prize winner, legend. In addition to his countless better-known achievements, he was also a pioneer of the "send nudes" movement, as we found out during our research. This man was just clearly ahead of his time!

For a fortnight I help out, see other volunteers come and go, then come back again and so on. Slowly I start to think about how and where the journey should continue. Out of nowhere a window opens - Adrian (boss) has a job offer for me through contacts - one month of silicon work on a cruise ship to Canada and back. As mentioned on the front page, cruise ships I rather dislike , but extremely well-paid work and a new adventure at the same time - I wouldn't miss it. I say yes. However, it doesn't take long before the window closes again - the next morning, the clients decide that they don't need any help after all. Well, then I continue in Bristol for a while and keep looking. Or not. In the afternoon Adrian offers me something better - I can sail as deck crew on a tall ship. I won't say no to that!

Polly, another volunteer here, also joins. So on 09.09 we set off for Dublin, where the Pelican of London is waiting for us....

Big thanks to Patrick, Jo, Tamsin, Chris, Ray, Jakob, Johnny, Hannah, Martin, Dinnie and Noah (currently on episode 130 of "The Magnus Archives", thanks!), Mike, Tobi, Polly, Charlotte and probably someone else I forgot (sorry!). Glad to have met you all and hope to see you all again...hopefully on board then!