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Athena of Southampton - Athena Log 2



Athena log 1 – Thursday 28th November 2012 – 1200 hrs

I think I will remember the nights the most.  Gazing up at the star filled sky, the great clear form of Orion moving across heaven.  It will be at the top of the mast at about 2 am, half way through my watch by then.  That’s also when the sky will begin to lighten, as the moon begins to rise and climbs out of the eastern sea.  It will have no top on it.  Only it’s lower quarter to act as a lantern.  ‘Tis enough...  For now, the sea is black dark to the distant horizon, whose line divides the slightly lighter, dark grey sky; occasionally the flicker of a distant vessel’s lights.  It is hypnotic to gaze at.  Even though we are only three days out, I think I will remember the nights the most.  There is time to sit and think.

Not like the frantic days before we left Las Palmas.  I suppose I had certain notions about what to expect, when chartering a boat.  A shining, sparkling specimen of seafaring engineering, tied up at he marina.  Everything ship shape and ready to put to sea.  A vessel sleek and majestic, with spanking new rigging, pulling at its moorings and eager to get to sea.  This does not quite reflect our reception at the marina in Las Palmas eight days ago.

To start with, there was no boat!  Well to be fair, we knew that before we arrived.  We’d been told that she was delayed in passage from England and would arrive Thursday.  This was on Tuesday.  I was given a small cabin aboard our sister boat, “Misfa”.  I shared this with all the luggage of Misfa’s crew, as well as spare blankets, pillows, sail bags, life belts and flares.  It was ............... cosy.

The next two days passed very quickly.  There were seminars on topics such as First Aid, the night sky during passage, expected weather for the route over the next few weeks and demonstrations of rescue at sea by helicopter; all very exciting.  Evenings of Sundowners (i.e. free beer), meals with those of the crews (ours and Misfa’s), who had arrived and a fancy dress party.  Good fun, but no sign of Athena until Friday.

On Friday morning, Athena pulled onto her berth, a few down from Misfa.  We never met her delivery crew, who went early to the airport and returned to England.  She had no skipper, though one was on the way and indeed he arrived on Friday night.  The wear and tear of the passage down to Las Palmas quickly became evident.  Serious work was needed on the generator, the water desalination, the battery system, the communications system, parts of the rigging, etc., etc.  She had to go through her Safety testing and be fully stocked for six people for three weeks at sea.  In two days!!

Sleeves rolled up everybody and get stuck in.  I still don’t know how we made the start line at one o’clock on Sunday, but make it we did, with half an hour to spare.

And so to sea. The first few days are spent getting used to the new environment, the rocking and swaying.  A pattern develops.  We fit into the watch system of four hours on and eight hours off.  We sit and chat, make tea and coffee, cook and wash up.  Constantly watching sails and altering trim.  Singing and storytelling come high on the agenda.  And the first few days pass quickly.  It’s hard to believe we are three days out.

It all goes quickly because there is always something to do.  Except at night!  Then you can sit and think.  Watch the dark horizon.  Watch the star filled sky.  Watch the course and the breeze playing with the sails.  I think I will remember the nights the most. 

Brian

 

As promised, here is the next verse of the song “Brendan’s Voyage” by Christy Moore, a little tune about how the Irish Navigator St Brendan did the first ARC, ARC 501 AD! You’ll notice some liberties have been taken with the route in the interest of it all rhyming!

Second Verse – Brendan’s Voyage (Christy Moore)

                To make it fast he bent the mast and built up mighty speed,

                Round Tierra del Fuego and up the warm Gulf Stream (?)

                He crossed the last Horizon Mount Brandon came in sight

                And when he cleared the customs off to Dingle for the night,

                When he got to Cordon Bleu, he went to douse the drought,

He headed West to Kruger's to murder pints of stout.

Around by Ballyferriter and up the Connor Pass,

he  freewheeled into Brandon, the saint was home at last.

 

Chorus (we are not reprinting it you’ll just have to read yesterdays log for it!)

More tomorrow; to keep you coming.... each day we’ll rotate the author to give the crew some work to do!



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