Two experiences stand out for me during the incredible 18 months that I was fortunate enough to work with The Maiden Factor. Sailing into New York on 1 st June 2022, with Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York’ blaring from our Bluetooth speaker, was sensational. I had never been to The Big Apple before, sailing Maiden into the harbour in front of the Statue of Liberty was unforgettable. Although it was raining when Tracy hugged all of us at Brooklyn One 15 Marina, it didn’t dampen our spirits one bit. The other, is our time in Dakar, Senegal. What an inspiring adventure that was enriched in no small way by my shore team travelling buddy, the fabulous Greg. I can honestly say that I don’t think I have ever laughed so much in two weeks before or since. Everything about that stop over was hilarious, it was like being in a never- ending comedy sketch. It was absolutely the best way to do what Maiden’s do best, we visited schools, education centres, sports programs, lunched with dignitaries, gave talks, movie nights and learnt so much about the rich and tragic history of Dakar. It was simply the best stop over ever. I miss all of that.