LIFE INSIDE A CEMENT MIXER - DAY 16, Tuesday 7th December (
Mariposa Blog
Robert Newman
Thu 9 Dec 2010 09:58
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N 14 10 83, W 41 49 53
We have now been going for 16 days and have finally got
the Trade Winds which have been so elusive to date. These strengthened
through Sunday night and we generally made good progress on Monday 6th,
although there were still frustrating periods when the wind drop away without
warning. However, with the wind came increasingly choppy seas, heavy swell
and the accentuated rolling / corkscrew motion to the boat
(which by Monday night and into Tuesday had developed to winds gusting
at 30+ knots and now feels like we are living inside a cement
mixer), which makes every activity difficult and it is life jackets
on, on deck at all times; basic tasks such as cooking, eating and drinking
require care to avoid wearing it yourself or throwing it over someone else!
(Although, Frosty was having this problem well before the winds and seas picked
up!). Also we are now experiencing regular squalls (heavy
wind in erratic direction and rain showers), which come up very
quickly behind us and disappear as quickly as they appear; it is much fabled by cross-Atlantic sailors that these squalls are
an excellent opportunity for a much needed personal clean, but you have to
be quick on deck with the application of soap / shower gel, as it is
apparently comical watching someone getting fully lathered up, only for the
rain to suddenly stop, leaving them having to rub excess soap out of their eyes
and cursing the heavens. (N.B. This happened to Willy and Spiller on
Monday morning!). Willy spotted dolphins at the same time and a nude,
heavily soap-soaked Arian moving swiftly up the deck shouting,
"Dolphins" may concern the RSPCA somewhat!
It is hot at this tropical latitude and when the
seas are heavy we have to keep the hatches closed (obviously too much water
inside the boat is not recommended!); without the luxury of air-con (that some
boats will have) and no air-flow, it is can get very oppressive. Sleep
depravation is a therefore proving a problem, especially in the heavier
seas and the _expression_, "Someone's tired", is certainly now well employed on
board Mariposa; if you do manage to get to sleep in the heat & rolling,
you are often awoken by being rolled swiftly sideways as the boat pitches or
simply being hurled off your bunk, when a large wave hits. In the need for
a breeze, Willy opened the hatch above his head on Monday night
and therefore, got a rude (wet) awakening and an unexpected face wash when
a larger than average wave broke over the boat! Spiller thought this
most amusing, until he made the same schoolboy error this morning and
got the equivalent of a bucket full of salt water through his hatch,
all over his bed....."He who laughs last, laugh longest
Rodney"!!!
This morning when Spiller was washing up (there's a
shock!), a large wave caused a a plastic breakfast bowl to take flight,
smash into the wall opposite and split in two, which takes some force! The
sit down, gourmet team meals of the first 2 weeks, accompanied with a glass
of wine or two are now a thing of the past (as is the sunshine, as it has been
overcast for the last 2 days), as meals have become very basic, with
the minimum of prep and are quickly gobbled down to avoid
spillage!
I (Spiller) am generally yet to be convinced by
sailing as a sport as there is far too much faffage; when the wind is
light, there appears little to do (other than sun-bathing,
cooking, eating and fishing, which I accept is not too bad, but, you could
do this on land and also have the benefit of a comfortable bed and two hot,
fresh water showers a day too!) & the crew generally sit
around complaining about the slow progress, then put up bigger
sails to try and catch the little wind that there may be and then take
these sails down again, as there is too little wind to fill
them! Then no sooner has the wind picked up but you have to
take down the sails again in case the boat gets over-powered, whilst
getting thrown around all over the place and getting no sleep......Clearly
someone is getting tired!
We now have (only) 1,111nm to go and estimate that at
current rate (6 - 7 knts), this will take us another 7 days, so we will
hopefully have St. Lucia in our sights by 14th; with friends and family due in St.Lucia from 9th, the wind is
much welcomed by the crew, despite the downsides highlighted above.
THINGS SPILLER WILL NOT MISS ABOUT LIFE AT
SEA:
1. Having a wet bed!
2. The constant longing
for a hot shower, in fresh water. 3. The Skipper's (Rob) increasing propensity for
carrying out many daily activities in the naturalist state..... very
distressing indeed.
4. Frosty accidentally setting off his 'Man Overboard
Alarm' in the middle of the night; as the other 3 jump from their bunks and
fling doors wide open, bleary-eyed, Frosty appears casually from up on deck
saying, "Sorry, accident!" - Once you can accept......say no
more?!
5. With sleep generally proving difficult to come
by, Frosty's ability to fall asleep in an instant and immediately
start snoring at high decibels; then when he wakes complaining that he couldn't
sleep!
6. The Dog Watch (2-5am).
7. The constant urge to tidy
up after Rob & Frosty (N.B. Thankfully, Willy is a tidy and
clean-aholic like me, so at least our end of the boat is organized and
clean!). N.B. I accept that I must be a nightmare to live with
too!
8. Willy's awful singing (N.B. A perfect 2 notes off at
all times!)
9. Not knowing the score in the Ashes Test Matches
(although Kirsty has been good at providing score summary by
e-mail).
10. The constant re-calculation of average
speed against miles to go!
11. The constant "Movement Ballet'' in
the swell.
12. Frosty's builder's cleavage on show
continually!
THINGS I WILL MISS:
1. The tranquility of subsistence & being out
in the vast ocean, under clear, starlit skies, under sail.
2. Having my mobile phone permanently switched off
and no need to know the daily news (other than
the cricket score!)
3. Rob, Nick & Frosty.
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