can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Helia - It takes a Family



This is our third day on the same tack and until now almost all of it at 60 degrees apparent. Fast, but living on a constant heel has its challenges…

Our shift schedules have changed a bit after my wife Ginny and daughter Ellie (9) recovered from seasickness early on in the trip. Although Ginny and I are still keeping to the 3 hours on - 3 hours off, Ginny takes her watch in the cockpit and then immediately rests on the settee down below, especially between 6pm and when the moon rises each night providing better visibility/perspective.

After skipping half of the planned dinners the first few days out due to upset stomachs after sundown, we now have a routine established that includes breakfast, snacks and then an early dinner at 4 pm. Ginny prepped all the meals before we left, so now during her afternoon watch I warm up the planned dinner and feed the kids. This way she spends as little time as possible moving around below decks at night.

Hannah (14), Mia (11) and Ellie have been done some shifts together the last three days giving both Ginny and me the chance to skip a shift. It is quite fun to wake up to the sound of their chatter in the cockpit or one of their books on tape playing. 

Hannah and Mia did a shift last night from 6-9 PM at hull speed while I napped in the quarter berth right by the companionway. Hannah tracked the apparent wind angle, the rudder angle and the heading on the instruments after we had discussed boundaries for each. She said it felt a bit like a ride on Space Mountain.

No fishing yet…although Hannah had a flying fish land on deck next to her two nights ago. We have also been visited by dolphins, a finch and a great blue heron since leaving Hampton last Saturday.

There have only been a couple "are we there yet" questions from the kids, but I am sure we will hear more between now and Sunday. We are well past halfway, spirits are good and everyone is healthy.

Rob Beams
S/V Helia

Previous | Next