All aboard the RMS

Boarding the RMS at Ascension proved to be quite the challenge. There were 4 stevedores manning the step from pier to the Atlantic Queen which would shuttle us to the RMS anchored off shore. The Queen rose and fell several feet above and below the pier steps in the high swell and the steps were regularly washed with waves. Timing was important in order to avoid an early dunking. Boarding the RMS from the Queen was a similar process, first stepping onto a platform temporarily lashed to the side of the RMS and then nimbly stepping from platform to gangplank staircase when the two momentarily came in contact between waves and finally up the bucking bronco stairs to the ship. It took nearly an hour to load all 112 passengers on board, the Queen shuttling 40 passengers at a time from pier to ship. For safety, no flip flops or high heels and hands free i.e. no bags in hands were strictly enforced and with good reason. All luggage was shuttled by barge and craned aboard in a container.

Finally the ships horn was sounded and we steamed off along the Ascension coast with last views of land for the next 3 days. Dolphins in great pods swam alongside us leaping high out of the sea. Tropicbirds with long streamer tails, white Fairy Terns and Ascension Frigate birds followed the boat as we passed the seabird colony on Boatswain Island.

It was a rough sailing, we all walked around like drunken sailors for 2 days and found lying horizontal was preferable to standing. Nothing to see but sea for 2 whole days..... Everyone was on deck eagerly scanning the horizon for land on the morning of the third day and by 10am St. Helena was clearly in view. We were all relieved to come into calm waters in the lee of St. Helena. Although the same process of disembarkation was the same as the embarkation it was far easier in the calmer waters.