So now I begin to see why most ocean sailors travel books say things like “the next seven days we sailed West without incident!” The initial excitement of setting off and settling into life aboard has now passed. We are now into a steady
routine. All of us are used to the motion of the boat, and have got used to the fluctuations in the wind, which varies between about 15 and 25 kts. The effect of this is just that the speed increases, and at the top end the boat surfs down the waves and the
motion gets a little less peaceful. Today has been a bit overcast but still very warm, and last night the display of stars was also impeded by clouds.
The big thing that is surprising is how short the days are and how long the nights. It is dark by 7pm, and not light again till about 0700. We are three on board and a running a two hours on 4 hrs off watch system so each of us gets about 8hrs in bed
at night. Even when the motion is a bit wild one seems to be able to sleep, admittedly a little fitfully at times, so we are mostly all awake in the day time, gabbing a nap if we feel like it.
Adding to the darkness the moon is small at the moment and anyway is not rising till about 0300. The instruments, even turned down to the dimmest setting still seem incredibly bright, and it is hard to see anything except the occasional white wave crest
sweeping by accompanied by little flashes of iridescence. I cant help feeling it would be better to turn off all the instruments, but then we would have no way of knowing if we were on course except the movement of the boat as its lifted by each successive
wave.
Meal times are a high point in the day. Breakfast this morning being fruit and granola with a splodge of yoghurt. Not exactly bacon and eggs but delicious after a long dark night and will no doubt keep scurvy at bay. I cant wait to see what is for supper
(I am not cooking today so it will be a surprise!).
Somehow the time passes very quickly, and we sit and chat for a time before all taking time out in turns, perhaps to shower, write my blog, mark up the paper chart, prepare meals and so on. Luckily we have not been on board long enough to have told all
our stories to each other, I must ask James and Simon to tell me when I start repeating myself!
Anyway enough till tomorrow now. We are still lying 2nd in class (although the class leader has changed overnight Sascana now instead of Argonaut) and trying to push on to maintain our position….reef in, reef out etc. Never a dull moment!
Day 4
Well yesterday I said we were into a rhythm and today even more so. I think we all managed to sleep for most of our allotted 8 hours of off duty night time, the boat mean time sails herself south at 7.5-8.5kts with us relaxed spectators. The auto pilot
has not put a foot wrong despite quite challenging swells, and I for one felt that I had to be stood by to take over at a moments notice when a particularly big wave lifted the stern off course, but now I am confident it will do just fine with out me.
The other rhythm I have got into is music! Last night in my graveyard watch of 1am-3am I put in my iPods and played the new Rolling Stones album, down loaded at Gatwick and not until then listened to. What a contrast to my mood. Suddenly the stars twinkled
brighter, the boats movement seemed majestic and the swell keeping time with the base line. Before long my feet were tapping, and my hands drumming on the spray hood, there was even a little air guitar going on. I know it’s embarrassing but who was there
to watch!
I don’t know why I was surprised that old fashioned rock music is the perfect accompaniment to a sleigh ride like this. In my misspent youth when I was a keen dinghy racer with my sister as my crew we used to sing our way up the final beat of many a race.
I know this dates me, and even at the time was terribly un-cool,, but our favourite song was David Essex “I am going to make you a star”. The words changed slightly in the chorus: “ I dont care how cold you are, we are going to make you a star aha aha” (when
and if we cross the finish line first!)
Later when my children were teenagers we just had to have cockpit speakers for those windy exhilarating sails. Often it would be Queen, and sometimes the White Stripes if my son was in charge of the playlist, or even the Spice Girls if my daughter was!.
I am shocked to reflect that my current boat, which I have owned for 23 years does not even have cockpit speakers. In view of last night that is something that will have to change!
We are still flying south and at this rate might even make the Cape Verde Islands tomorrow evening.
Day 5
What a difference a day makes. Last night we shook out all the reefs and the sea started to flatten, this morning we are 54 miles from Cape Verde’s and cruising along at about 6kts still under full jib and main, goose-winged. (By the way what is this
term I hear on the radio “wing on wing”…is it American like a “kicking strap” becoming a “vang”? Not a rant just curious!)
This morning is also the first truly sunny one with barely a cloud in the sky, so all in all spirits are high. James is threatening to send me up the mast to look out for land, but I think getting a mobile phone signal will be the first sign that we are
close. As soon as I can I will be pressing send on these musings. Strange to think we will be sipping cocktails tonight on Land!