The Realisation

What exactly have we done?
Dan's got a boat on the Eastern Seaboard, but we live 3000nm away

Hmm

There are three options:

Get her delivered by freight
Get someone who knows what they are doing to deliver her
Sail her home ourselves

We weighed up the options, and came to no conclusions. Each had its merits, the above were listed in cost, if not necessarily risk order.
Anyhow, Dan had to go to the US for work. Finally, the call came:
"Chris, can you skipper the boat back to the UK ?"
I took a while to answer
"Yes, but we need a crew"
Lots of people were really keen, until we called the dates.
Two more guys, William & Shelton were completely committed, a few others were hovering, so I put my foot down. If they dither, they're out.

It was only an option for William and myself to take time off work, in both cases, the whole year's allowance. If we do this thing, we do it quickly, no pleasantries lounging in the Azores. Our only choice is the Northern route:
Nova Scotia
Flemish Cap
Hit the Gulf Stream, but run away carefully in bad weather or heave to
Southern Tip of Ireland
Southampton

Its really not the nicest way to cross the Atlantic, but it is fast, plus Lotus is very good in the expected conditions.
I should be keel-hauled for that.
No conditions are expected, they are just dealt with when they happen