Magic - Blog - May is having a rest

May is having a rest on deck in the sun so I am writing today…  Tina…   We all woke up early following a night of beautiful watches – some of us had more wind than others but everyone had a fair wind, stunning stars and warmth as soft as cashmere.    We are enjoying hand sailing as the watches go faster and our helm skills grow.  We are glad we don’t have to hand steer all the way but for this stretch it is enjoyable.  Having had a cracking start – crossing the start line on a Starboard tack and making good time we have all now let go of any thoughts of a place in the ‘not’ race – we have had a lot of issues with equipment and we are focusing on moral and teamwork to ensure that the problems we are having get resolved quickly and safely. The frustration and anxiety has been palpable at times.  It is incredible how many things have gone wrong – breaking – twisting – chafing or bursting.  There is enormous strain on the boat and the constant downwind position makes specific points weak.  There are a lot of things that were ‘professionally’ fitted or fixed that have failed – it is frustrating that the Marine industry maintenance industry is so ‘hit and miss’.  Especially when the ‘miss’ can mean putting people in danger.  The best people we have come across so far in our travels are Rolnautic in Las Palmas – Juan Carlos and his team was excellent and everything they fixed stayed fixed.  I was reflecting today on the things that have gone right rather than the things that have gone wrong and that helped – our generator and engine are great – our stern door with its new seal is holding perfectly, the water maker is excellent and makes water – shame that it was fitted badly and we can only make water in certain conditions.  The repair to the Genoa is holding well too.  The Iridium and the Mail a Sail package works well but we seem to have used up all our credit which is odd as we had a lot… something must have up or down loaded that shouldn’t  - ho hum.     So there are more things going right than going wrong – but that is easier to see now we are more rested and the sailing is less aggressive.   Initially the issues with equipment caused a lot of stress and fractions in the team.  We have had questions over decision making and leadership and about the preparation of the boat but we have all worked really hard together –   we have talked over everything and resolved the questions and concerns - the saying “we are all in the same boat’ will never be more true than when things are going wrong in the middle of the Atlantic.    You really get to know yourself and others when you are sailing for weeks on an ocean.  In the Yachting press you read a lot about preparation and equipment and less about the human dynamics – but they are connected.   Mark and I have been through a buffet of emotions from – “we are selling Magic and never sailing again” to “We love Magic and want to sail forever” and everywhere in between.  Certainly we feel we are not going to sail Oceans anymore and that we would like to sail in the Caribbean and the Med – We are happy we can stay in the Caribbean for a few months to take time to cruise the islands.  The current plan (and it does keep changing) is to cruise the Caribbean and end up in the BVI’s.  Then we will fly to the UK (have to find a flight for May!) Simon (Seaway Yacht Deliveries – well worth checking out if you need your boat moving) will sail Magic to Lagos where she can be our home in the Med…We will stay in Yorkshire for a bit then drive to Lagos ….it’s a work in progress.   At the moment it is noon on Monday 30th – we are hoping to call Half Way at some point today and have a glass of Pink Moet.  It really has been the most incredible challenge in so many ways.  Everyone is dealing with it differently but fundamentally we are all supporting each other.  Marking the success of half way is incredibly important for everyone.(Before you read the next part of this blog  - please note Mark is fine apart from some bruises)   The weather now is sunny and there is only very little wind.  We are doing 5knots but we are heading South in the hope of more wind.  We are of course still concerned that we cannot get the Genoa down.  Despite Marks heroic efforts yesterday – going up to the very top of the mast when it was swinging like a pendulum – it is still stuck.   He has cut the halyard but what we think is that the foil (a piece of metal with a track in it ) has twisted and torn and the halyard is jammed – so we cannot get the Genoa down.  This is a problem as if a squall comes we need to get it down or reefed.  So, this morning we got up and had breakfast then Mark put on his oilies and harness and Simon, Nisse and Mark rigged lines from the Genaker Sheets up the Mast so that Mark could abseil up ( if that makes sense) the Main sail – he got beyond the first spreaders – which is about half way up – today I watched – Simon said Mark was safe and I should watch so that I knew he was safe – I still hate it.  There seemed to be lines everywhere – he had two lines – one on either side of him and he had the halyard above – he had his life jacket on and his safety harness.  John attached a Go Pro to his helmet and switched it on.  I watched Mark going higher and higher holding the mast with his left hand and using his toes to climb the sail.  Then the boat twisted on top of a wave and his left hand was pulled off the mast – hi body twisted and turned on the mainsail like a rag doll and I was terrified.  He was safe from falling but not safe from crashing into the mast and breaking bones.  He had his crash helmet on and all the safety lines and he was sitting in the new boson’s chair – but I still felt helpless and all I could do was watch in fear.   Then he rolled towards the mast – I couldn’t breath and everyone else was watching with concern. It was very quiet on deck and all eyes were on Mark.  He grabbed the mast and stopped himself twisting.  “Up” he said bravely  – but then no ..– the lines were all  twisted around and around each other and he could not go up  “Down” he said “slowly” thank God,  I thought lets get him down – but then he shouted “STOP”  he couldn’t go up or down.   What will happen now?  Mark is stuck up the mast fastened with his safety tether tied around twisted halyards – he held on to the mast with his left hand and used his feet to steady himself – then he worked on the tangled mess of lines for what seemed like an hour.  Mark shouted down that he was going to have to cut one of the lines.  I just kept thinking this was like some sort of hideous drama – which line to cut!  But this was real and this was my husband up the Mast in the middle of the Atlantic – stuck!    I wanted to be sick, or to cry or to run – but instead I was just still and quiet and completely focused on helping where I could - tailing lines as Simon and Nisse helped Mark with suggestions.  Then he cut one of the lines and spent 10 minutes untangling the rest – finally he shouted “Down” I looked away.  Soon he was sitting on the Boom – he looked exhausted.  I felt so relieved and proud and happy.  When you are at sea things can go wrong very quickly and then smart thinking and calm, focused teamwork are critical.   All that work and stress and he hadn’t even been able to get up to solve the Genoa problem.  That’s it – I said – no more going up the mast we will have to find another way. When he got down and recovered he had a cup of tea (how very British)  and said – “well that didn’t work!”  crazy…   I have learned that I hate to be scared for my own safety but I hate it even more to be scared for others.  We have it all on video and Mark had a GoPro on his helmet – he is very brave and strong and his motivation was to ensure we were all safe and could take the Genoa down in a Squall.  He is our Hero today.   Then everything settled down – we tidied the boat and had lunch – Lottie and I cut the boys hair then Lottie cut mine.  Lottie and I just chilled and the guys were on deck – It is so strange – one minute it feels like peril and then calm – cleaning, eating, sunbathing, sailing, relaxing …it defies explanaition really.  Perhaps I could say – imagine being on holiday – you are happy and relaxed – then suddenly you have to go up a mountain and jump off with a parachute and you are terrified but you have to do it.  Then when you land you can go back and relax by the pool with a cocktail.   That doesn’t really describe it but it is shocking the HIGH highs and the LOW lows   Now writing it is 01.28 – Mark and I went on watch to relieve Simon and John and we brought the M&S Advent Calender with us – Simon opened Window number 1 and got a chocolate Donkey!   We don’t know how many more days we have at sea but we are all happy and apart from a few bruises we are all well.   Finally – we found a way to furl the Genoa – so Mark does not have to go up the Mast again – is seems that having cut the halyard it has worked its way free to turn.   That means tomorrow morning with these light winds we can furl the Genoa away and hoist our ‘scary’ black Geneker.   Perhaps we will pick up time again and make up for the time we have lost messing about with broken bits and ripped sails.   The ARC certainly tests the parts of your boat and sailing skills that other sailing doesn’t reach.Today is the 1st of December – Advent Calendar opened and Christmas Decorations up.  We have had bacon and eggs for breakfast and we are flying our Genakker and doing 8-11kn we are chasing an Irish man – Des Cummins in ALPAIRE in his Halberg Rassey  48 – he is doing cracking speed and it is motivational to chase his tail.What a beautiful Sunny day with perfect wind.PS The Genoa furled away perfectly  - weird