Helms 27 Sailboat

Topekan details trip across Atlantic Ocean

Steve Crouch's strength and endurance were pushed to the limits during his adventure sailing 4,260 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Topekan celebrated his 60th birthday at sea, which began May 5 in Antigua.

"It's been something I've wanted to do for a long time," said Crouch, who is medical director of the pediatric hospitalist program at Stormont-Vail Regional Health Center. "It has been a dream to cross the Atlantic Ocean under sail."

Crouch spent 24 days crossing the Atlantic. The first leg of the trip began in Antigua in the Caribbean area on the Spirit of Diana, a 65-foot sailboat designed by Bruce Farr. A crew of four accompanied Crouch and seven other people on the first leg, which ended in the Azores islands.

Everyone was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Diana, including raising sails, changing sails, taking the helm and taking turns watching for issues.

Crouch kept a detailed log along the way. He wrote about preparing meals, scrubbing the deck, sleeping in "functional" quarters and steering by Polaris, the North Star.

He wrote about May 8, the "most remarkable day" in his adventure. He awoke to people shouting about a whale spotting.

"We had several surfacing around us," Crouch said.

He jumped out of his bunk, grabbed his camera and joined the others. An hour later, the Diana rendezvoused with its companion boat, the Spirit of Isis, and the two crews went swimming.

Crouch was the only American on the trip.

"There were two women and a wide variety of people," he said. "I think the most positive aspect was that everyone got along."

One the Diana reached the Azores, crew members spent seven days visiting and resting up for the second leg of the trip, which got under way on May 27.

During his 24 days at sea, Crouch said he was never frightened. There were times when he was cold, wearing four layers on his head and five layers on his torso. There were times when he wondered why he chose to celebrate his 60th birthday at sea.

And there were times he thought he pushed his limits.

"I'm very glad I did it," he said. "There were some great times. I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the stars at night. I thoroughly enjoyed the people I traveled with. I love sailing, so I enjoyed the sailing."

The Diana crew members ended their adventure June 5 in Portsmouth, England.

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