How the everyday life on Hanse Sailor looks like...
Since we hit quite steady trade winds from east-north-east to east with
15-20 knots (27-36 km/h) a couple days ago, the sail trimming came to a minimum.
We are mostly flying either the main sail or the Gennaker alone, having the wind
almost straight from stern (the back aka known as the infamous downwind
sailing). So apart from the rare change of sail, how does our day (including the
night, since we are here 24/7) on Hanse Sailor look like?
During the night, starting at 2000 and ending at 0800, our watch system
starts. We are organised in teams of two and a watch lasts for three hours,
meaning two teams have one watch per night and one team has two. This should
provide each of us with at least six hours of sleep (although since the boat is
rolling quite a lot form side to side the last days, most of us do not really
get a quality sleep). During the watch, we are observing the wind (as mentioned
quite steady these days, but there is always the risk of a squall, a sudden
increase of wind reaching gust forces) and our surroundings (we have seen the
lights of one sailing boat and two cargo vessels since we left Las Palmas) and
take appropriate measures if needed. If not needed (most of the times), we
admire the fantastically clear and vast night sky, enjoy the moon and sun rise,
talk or contemplating about life.
Around 0800, one after the other starts to wake up and releases the watch.
Simultaneously, the dishes from the dinner are being done. Since our fresh
water is limited, we use two buckets of salt water and a third bucket with just
a wee bit of fresh water to rinse the salty crust off. After the boat is
organised for the day, the crew individually starts to have breakfast. The
breakfast selections reaches from muesli, cornflakes, toast, omelettes, beans,
bacon to the left overs from the day before. Since the breakfast is also kind of
a lunch, one (most) might take several goes on it.
Otherwise, the morning and afternoon provide us with time to read, study
the weather forecast and our sailing progress, catch up with some sleep,
fishing, fix some stuff on the boat (hello Gennaker), doing laundry and taking a
swim. Since we are doing steadily 6-8 knots (10-15 km/h) and we have no
intentions to stop for the swimming, it means that we lower the transom (the
back of the boat) and grab on to it as the boat drags us along, no safety net
attached (we haven’t lost anyone so far).
Around 1600-1700, the magic in the galley (kitchen) starts to happen –
meanly due to Graham, our Scottish star chef with a slight dislike for
vegetables and vegetarians (me), whereas the rest of us tries to execute some
minor chopping or other sidekick things needed. Bear in mind that the boat does
not stop rolling just because we want to prepare some food, meaning all the
vegetables, bowls and everything else (including knifes!) are trying to glide
around if you don't watch them closely and place them strategically.
The constant movement of the boat is anyways something we have to bear in
mind in our every step. Opening e.g. the fridge (which opens like a drawer)
means the door is first flying towards your body, and in the next moment is
trying to shut itself quite forcefully, so watch your hands.
Tea time is served outside in the cockpit, providing us with some fresh air
and the silence of the boat getting carried through the waves. After tea time,
some go downstairs to take a nap before their shift starts, some stay upstairs a
bit longer to enjoy the company.
Some stats so far:
Nautical Miles (1.852 km) sailed so far: 1.800
Nautical Miles left: 900
Fish caught: 2
Boats seen during the day: 0
Boats seen during the night: 3
Halyards broken: 1 (Gennaker)
Sails ripped: 1 (Gennaker, professionally sewed back together of
course)
luv2brewer
Hi Ebba!
Stefan (the Swiss), on Hanse Sailor