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Skyelark of London - Half way to half way to Brazil



2. A gentle kite and a lovely tuna

Although in our joining instructions Dan had said we should bring a warm
blanket and light wet weather gear for the first few days, the balmy 30
degrees with gentle Cape Town zephyrs caressing the many marina flags had
lulled us into a false sense of security. It was an illusion.
Cape Town is roughly on the same latitude as southern Spain. It is however
open to southerly winds coming in from Antarctica - and they can be
unpredictable and cold. Leaving Cape Town we immediately entered a bank of
somewhat damp, thick and spooky fog. This would not generally be an issue
but rounding the Cape is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes with
tankers and container ships carrying goods to and from the east coast of
America and Europe to India, the Far East and China; this had to be
successfully crossed. Safely across, the sound of sirens and fog horns
receding into the distance, the mist dissipated and the sun appeared - but
not for long. As night approached, the sky darkened, it started to drizzle
and the sea turned an inky black.
The watch system had been determined. Tim with Skaaj, Sharon with Hermann
and Em on her own. Dan would be on hand for all watches and ensure the right
sails were in use, and Skyelark was 'trim' and on the right course. Every
third night one team would cook - the food on Skyelark being of world
renown. Skaaj and Hermann had done some sailing, Sharon and Tim less so, but
to a degree all were learning the ropes.
Berths were allocated. Dan and Em in the rear double, Sharon in the port
fore bunk room, Hermann and Skaaj on the starboard side. Tim was to be in
the saloon - on condition no-one should complain if seen disrobing!

During the evening the drizzle ceased but the temperature was falling and
waves, some unpredictable cross waves, and wind speeds were mounting. Into
our water proofs life jackets and safety harnesses for our first night
watches. Crawling into bed at 6am, having done the log, which is filled in
after every watch - location, wind speed, distance covered during watch
(usually around 17 nms), distance to run to St Helena then, 1,571.

And to sleep, perchance to dream. At sea apparently dreams are common. In my
first I was chased by back masked clowns across many of the places I know -
no safe haven - to be saved by a gang of knife wielding lesbians. Then the
alarm went, damn it! Funny dream for you to have, I was told!

Next morning it was still cold with 30 km gusts and bigger seas. We are
basically on port tack and with the waves the regular roll is around 40
degrees - 10 degrees lean port to 30 degrees starboard. We were all finding
our sea legs very quickly! In the saloon there is a net containing copious
amounts of fruit. In the night, as I pondered the watery noises,- plugs
gurgling, waves crashing on the deck, the constant bow wave churning and the
whispering conspriratorial mutterings of the ripples along the hull, - as
we leaned, little limes escaped the netting and peltered me in my bunk.
Surreal.
The wind settled to 10 - 15 knots apart from one stormy night when Sharon
and Hermann had 'fun' putting in some reefs in exciting conditions, which
requires standing by the mast and pulling and coiling various lines. It can
be both challenging and scary. There were one or two days of stronger winds
and Skyelark, on two days, broke the 200 mile benchmark - a rare and
pleasing occurrence. The whole fleet of nine of us was doing well. None
could be seen but most were within 50 miles

The long and still sometimes cold watches give time to lots of thoughts and
discussion - do fish sleep and if so where, to avoid being eaten? do people
who have had a happy childhood run their lives on the basis of fairness,
while those who have grown up in a less secure environment see everything in
terms of right and wrong or black and white.? And the brightness of the
stars overwhelms - earth and humanity are so small and insignificant - we
are only a microbe in the chair leg of a dolls house in a mansion, in a
street.....

Such adventures are mainly about camaraderie. And we were all getting to
know each other and our ways. Skaaj, a quiet thoughtful project manager with
a winning smile, Sharon, a vegan - fantastic mushroom risotto - independent
and knowledgeable, Hermann a real gentlemen with a good heart and a sense of
fun.

From previous experience on board, the topics of Trump and Brexit are
banned. But at 4pm each day there is a quiz across the radio with the rest
of the fleet. Sharon is Skyelark's secret weapon. We have now won twice -
with Tullamore (Scotland) and Owl close behind. The Russian crew of Arabella
sent Victor up the mast to take a photograph - no mean feat - and was so
happy up there he missed the quiz! One extraordinary fact is that everyone
in the world seems to know what Mrs May said was the naughtiest thing she
had ever done - running through a field of wheat. As Skaaj with his dry
sense of humour said 'It must be wonderful for the British to have such an
exciting prime minister'.

And the last two days have seen the most spectacular sailing ever. The south
east trade wind is behind us. A pole has been put out and a mainsail
preventer put in place to provide safety in case of jibing. The pole
provides the structure for a spinnaker or 'kite'. Taking real team work to
erect, the huge sail adds two knots to our speed and looks amazing. The fact
that Dan and Em can even contemplate using us to help is a tribute to their
patience and experience.

The fishing line was out. A small blue fin tuna was caught and expertly
gutted by Dan. Within 20 minutes it was marinated and seasoned and eaten as
sushi by 'the boys' - Em and Sharon not eating fish. Spectacular.
Skyelark and its trusty crew have past the half way point - 875 nm - on its
way to the Isle of St Helena - where Napoleon was sent in 1815 and died in
1821. We have a fair wind, kindly seas and a voluminous and gentle 'kite' to
pull us along. The sea and the sky are all the shades of blue nature had
created - azure, aquamarine, cobalt .. And all was well in our cocooned
and perfect world.

And 'Tomorrow is another day' - quiz question - and Dan's birthday!

Tim


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