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Skyelark of London - Feb 13



Feb 13
I am not a blogger, nor a sailor, yet here I am writing a blog and making my first blue water passage from Panama to the Galapagos Islands.
I am from Alaska - the interior of Alaska - 350 miles from the coast. And although I have been to sailing school, done short sails in New Zealand, Alaska and Washington, bareboat chartered in the BVIs, even raced out of the
Honolulu Yacht club (my former neighbor was the commodore at the time) nothing prepared me for the wonders of this trip.

"Light my Bowl" is the name I call my first night time discovery. I had the 1 a.m. watch. So in the dark I stealthily made it to the head, hoping not to wake my fellow crew. Keeping lights off, I pumped the toilet clear using sea water. To my absolute delight, the electric green phosphorescence lit up the bowl as they circled down the drain. Needless to say I was late for my watch.

"The Guiding Lights" have eased any worries I might have had making this trip. I was at the helm, it was the middle of the night and I was steady on course using three brilliant stars as guides. Later, sitting in the cockpit
I realized those stars were part of the Big Dipper - upside down! The Big Dipper is a constant in Alaska's sky and the symbol on our state flag. Now at night I'm using the Southern Cross constellation off port bow but the
Dipper remains constant, starboard aft.

"Learning where sea glass comes from" was a bit of surprise to this newbie. I've strolled many a beach and have quite a collection of sea glass- some chalky white, other aqua and even grass green. I'd never thought about where or how it came to be until this passage. All items biodegradable, that melt away by sea salt, current and tide, are put over the side. I now understand that some day, a small piece of our curry sauce jar may some how, roll on to a distant shoreline and delight a fellow beach comber.

"I haven't seen my shoes in days and my knees miss them" Pilates, yoga, strength and tone classes, cannot compare to the workout one receives living aboard a constantly bouncing, rolling sailboat that is listing at 20
degrees, usually more. Literally pulling yourself up hill to the galley, or crawling across the deck or just pouring a cup of tea demands the utmost concentration, timing, balance and a bit of luck. My knees have calluses and
my body bruises - all badges of honor and courage.

Some of these bodily badges could be completely eliminated if it wasn't necessary to dress. The balance act I perform to put on a pair of shorts could sell show tickets in Las Vegas. That is why this cruiser will be proposing naked sailing for next year's World Arc.

Beckie




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