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Skyelark of London - 9 days on a Port Tack. A day in our life



9 days on a Port Tack
Sailing on a broad reach means mostly that Skyelarks' sails are full of wind
and we make steady, sometimes spectacular, progress across this vast ocean.
It also means living at a constant 20-30 degree angle.....
0315 Awake to the sound of refitting as a chainsaw is driven through the
bulkhead of my cabin.
0317 Realise that chainsaw is in fact the snoring of cabin mate Tarquin
(not his real name)
0318 Reach for alarm to shut off. Boat heels. Drop alarm on T's head.
Thankfully he sleeps on.
0319 Reach for head torch to find alarm clock before alarm goes off. Boat
heels. Drop headtorch on T's head. Thankfully he sleeps on.
0320 Try to climb down from bunk. Due to boat heeling T is lodged at 30
degree angle leaning over side of bunk. Only spot to step on appears to be
his right kidney.
0321 Clamber gracelessly to cabin sole and retrieve head torch and alarm
clock from T's pillow.
0323 Return from head. Try to hold cabin door (which doesn't fit in frame)
closed while holding open cabinet door to retrieve clothes. Am immediately
struck in chest by two packing bags stuffed with clothes which launch
themselves from cabinet at 30 degree angle like guided missiles.
0326 In the struggle between modesty and keeping the doors quiet, modesty
succumbs and i dress in the dark with the door latched open. I reason it's
0330 and everyone is asleep -if i can stay quiet- or on deck.
0332 Enter galley. Open cabinet door for teabags. Coffee pot, tea pot and
three china cups erupt from cabinet and descend with crescendo into kitchen
sink. Thankfully everyone sleeps on.
0340 Wrestle the tea mugs into cockpit with little tea lost and minimal
ocean added.
0345 Assess wind and waves - Skyelark blends the elegance of a Godolphin
thoroughbred and the solidity of a Challenger tank. She is beautifully
balanced so that, if you are not a hopeless lubber like me, she will respond
to the lightest adjustment and surge effortlessly. She is equally disdainful
of oversteering and lapses in concentration.
0400 At the helm enjoying the panorama and the vast freedom of the ocean and
a night sky unhindered by city lights. At this moment I wouldn't trade
places with anyone in the world
3.00pm Back at the helm as the GPS confirms 1480 nm have been logged,
marking our halfway point to the Marquesas. Together the crew all enjoy
coffee and carrot cake to celebrate. We appreciate these small victories in
our tilted world........

Sarah



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