Gitana - She can handle it, she's ready!

Squalls, they keep you on your toes!

The difference in being ready for an eventuality and not is immense and
the last couple of days we've seen exactly that. Two nights ago when we
had our first experience of squally showers at sea, we saw significant
course changes, most hands on deck and frantic sail changes before
eventually settling down to the dawn and a day of good breeze, consistent
boat speeds throughout the day and great progress.

Last night was my turn... here's what happened.

> - 2am watch handover from Mike to me
All's well, winds are light (<10kts), boat speed has slowed to 4.5kts,
just making our 262degrees course to steer in light winds. The skies are
filled with stars and we briefly spoke about the possibility of shaking
out reefs in the sails. (2 in the main, 1 in the headsail). Based on the
previous night we decide to leave it and take the hit on progress if the
weather remains calm and unchanged.

> - Watching the mileage
Before my watch we were at 1003nm to run, the read out on deck has been on
999 since day 3 of the trip, so the excitement of finally seeing those
numbers change is eagerly awaited and conversation focus today! 02:15
nothing, 02:25 nothing... clouds are slowly building to the north,
everything still calm. 02:37, bang there we go 998nm to run!! Woohoo!
Everyone's asleep, so no celebratory yelp!

> - Weather changes 02:40
Over the last 30mins the clouds have continued to build in from the North
and the sky darkens. To the south the skies are still clear and full of
stars. I check the lines, check the reefs, check our heading - all good.
Now I watch and wait as the seas continue rolling.

The wind direction indicator arrow doesn't swing and stays put but the
speed starts to increase, 8.5kts, 11, 15, 18, 21 (very uniform), 25kts and
we're off. She's holding course at 262degrees, boat speed starts to
increase 4.5, 6, 7, 8.5kts the other indicator jumps to 10kts. I check the
heading, all's well. She briefly rounds up to 266 and then returns to
course. Speed over ground is consistently 8kts now.

Gusts reach 30kts before settling back to nearly 18-24kts, boat speeds
maintained, heading is good, motion is good and then there's the rain.
Nothing torrential, just a shower. Close the hatch cover, have a good look
around - no stars, no lights, I can see some whites of the wave crests as
they're breaking in the darkness, but nothing more.

Eyes back to the read outs:
8.2kts, 260degrees, 10kts, 995nm

The course steered comes up a bit as the breeze intensifies so time to get
Poppy to shift down a few degrees which she dutifully does and then again.
The northerly gusts that are backing the headsail have been avoided, we
carry on.

The boat sounds like a train as the momentum builds, concentration
intense, but Gitana is well prepared for this tonight, she's carried her
reefs throughout the day. She holds her course, she's brilliant, she's
balanced with sail and motion, I feel confident in her ability to see this
through.

'White squall' pops into my head (great film, but not now!) - I move that
thought on quickly after quickly checking the horizon that is still
completely black.

15mins pass, 25mins, then 40minutes... finally I can start to see stars
through the cloud base above me, lower down I see the same. The wind
speeds finally start to drop off, so does the boat speed and within
45minutes she's settled again. 5kts boat speed and <10kts of wind and
relax.

45minutes, nearly 8miles and an exhilarating watch that's almost come to
an end already!

Next watch appears on deck ready for an early handover, I explain what's
happened and complete the handover noting the direction of movement of the
ominous clouds around us that are no longer a threat tonight.

Time for bed and rest.

> - Jerry Springer moment
When the nights are long, the sleep is short and the weather keeps you on
your toes - remember to keep the kettle on, the drink offers open and
never forget the power of a well done or something similar. Silence can
be torture or worse 'what you could've done differently is...' Sometimes,
just sometimes we don't need that.
An amazing man I worked with years ago (sorry if you've heard this story,
this man is just the very best at what he does and we both regail the
story, he made me the tall ship sailor I became!) had a way, he didn't
shout thank you's or well done's or gush with praise. He noticed and you
knew, he knew. Years spent up and down tall ship rigging, one day on a
youth voyage, we were losing the light quickly, we hadn't stowed the sails
- the kids were still up one mast with their watch leaders so with a nod
from Barry, off I went and made a start on the other mast. The upper top,
the lower top and the course were all in their gear so off I went, quick
stow and into gaskets - alone. Just at the last piece, a voice came from
the deck offering help, but it was ok - I was nearly done and headed back
to the deck.
On arrival the amazing Barry Martin, walked towards me on the deck, looked
at the rig, looked at me and simply said "I did see." and carried on his
work. I've never felt such an immense warmth of pride from praise, no
gush, no false words, just 'he saw'. Barry, we still love this memory! I
told my head mistress this at my interview too!!


--
SY Gitana