Open Atlantic ocean trials and tribulations

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BOAT LIFE:  Sailing the vast blue oceans is not quite as romantic as it sounds.  If you have a love of freedom, enjoy breathing salty sea air and feeling the wind on your face, its an addictive playground of challenges, resourcefulness, excitement, laughter and struggles which completely energizes one to live their best life.  

However, the reality is one barely sleeps the first night.  You feel every movement of the boat, one ear is constantly cocked for that unusual sound, the tummy can feel a little queasy especially when spending time in the galley or on the loo!!  For the first 24hours, the less time spent down below, the better.  Managing tiredness and resting the body is vital in keeping crew in tip top condition ready to face adversity. We have prepped good, wholesome, one pot meals to sustain us until we all have our sea legs.

But by the second day, excitement, adrenalin ... it all kicks in and life feels absolutely grand!  Your body clock is hard at work, waking 20 minutes before your middle of the night, pitch black watch and instead of feeling resentful to be woken from an exhausted sleep, you embrace your watch with a mixture of trepidation and excitement as to what you might find once you step out on deck.  Sounds are really muffled down below, it can be blowing a "hooley" (wild winds) on top but down below you are cocooned in calm and warmth.  


Captain Charlie looking pretty happy with his ship.


Blue water sailing at its best!

CHALLENGES:  There is always something to go wrong on a boat ...

At 22:00 (10 pm) on July 22, the log entry reads..RADAR inoperable, autopilot intermittent, forward head (toilet) non-functioning.  Thus begins the list that spearheaded the decision change course from Martha's Vineyard to the Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard in Rhode Island for repairs.

  • Of major safety concern is the radar not functioning as it should and this is needed for the expected fog when cruising north.  
  • The electric head flushing with fresh water luxury we enjoyed was temporarily replaced by the reliable bucket from sailing years past.  
  • The previously discussed cranky autopilot kept the crews on their toes--ever vigilant to grab the wheel when the alarm sounded.  
Geoff changing the filters for the watermaker




 






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