Who gets to sail and when?
 

Just a quick question on the idea of Elves returning to Valinor. I don’t recall ever reading whether or not any Elf could at any time sail West.

I know that when and if Elrond or Galadriel or one of the leadership decides to head West, they can just pack up and head for the boat. What about Joe Sixpack Elf. If Joe and Eunice Greenleaf and the little Greenleafs get fed up with Middle Earth can they catch the next boat out? Do they have to get permission from the head Elf? Do they have to wait until the leadership gets bored and decides its time for an exit? How many boats were there? If memory serves, The Fellowship and Galadriel caught the last one. How many were there originally? I don’t recall reading anything about this in the Sil or the LOTR. But then, my memory isn’t what it should be.

I think that Joe Sixpack Elf is in luck because I remember Gildor saying in fotr something about many of his people had already left for the land of the valinor and I think that it was his crew of elves that were the 'not special' elves or something as well.

I guess the Elves about to leave communicate with Círdan one way or the other before leaving for good. Círdan must be the chief organizer of the departure.

Cirdan stays till the last Elf sails west. Feel the contradiction in that sentence? Cirdan is the last Elf that will sail west since he is the keeper of the Haven, so it is said Cirdan will sail west when Cirdan will sail west... prophecies...