Day 13

The first leg of our seaborne journey was completed early this morning after a night sailing in stormy waters which really tested the endurance of the Free Gaza and SS Liberty following our departure from the port of Chania in Crete.

We are now docked in another secret location in the Greek islands - sorry but there are genuine concerns for the security of our two boats so I can say no more about our location.

We have already been delayed by a few days but I am happy to say we are all as determined as ever to smash the brutal Israel blockade strangling the good people of Gaza.

News reports are scarce out at sea but I've just heard that America, Britain and France, fresh from their recent war games in the Atlantic Ocean are now preparing for a naval blockade of Iran giving rise to speculation in the region of war in the Persian Gulf area.

Well I know for sure that Iran is not Gaza. It is armed and has a capable navy ready to repel such nonsense on its own doorstep.

But, as I write I am told that the Western armada steaming towards Iran includes a US Navy super-carrier battle group, a US Navy expeditionary carrier battle group, a Royal Navy carrier battle group, a French nuclear hunter-killer submarine plus a large number of US Navy cruisers, destroyers and frigates playing the "enemy force".

I suppose it makes our little two-boat armada of the SS Free Gaza and the SS Liberty seem incredibly tiny, but I can tell you when it comes to determination, sheer guts and a total conviction of what we're doing is right then we totally out gun the bullying super powers.

You see all those sailors heading towards the Persian Gulf will have grave doubts about their mission and where it will end ... there's already talk of a Third World War erupting. US servicemen are increasingly going absent without leave and the suicide rate among the young military is increasingly high because of the Vietnam-style quagmire they've already got themselves into in Iraq and Afghanistan.

However, the crews of the Free Gaza campaign have no such doubts about our mission and why it must succeed. And, despite the enormous challenges we're still together.

And who knows, after we break the siege of Gaza may be we should then head towards the Persian Gulf and give the US navy a demonstration of the power of peaceful resistance.
Well perhaps I am getting ahead of myself now.

The one thing I do envy though is the enormous military aid thrown at the Persian Gulf-bound armada - I don't suppose you'll ever see the US Navy trying to raise funds at a bring and buy sale.

Well I don't mind admitting that our Free Gaza campaign was launched on a shoestring budget and floats thanks to cash gifts from our global supporters - but if you do fancy giving us some more help then go on to our website www.freegaza.com and buy a gallon or so of fuel or sponsor a leg of our journey.

And once we smash the Israeli blockade we really want to keep the shipping lanes open between Gaza and the rest of the world so intend to run a regular route to and from Cyprus and other ports in the region. So please donate and help keep our boats afloat.

Yvonne Ridley and film-maker Aki Nawaz are making a documentary about the Free Gaza campaign for Press TV.