Athena log 1
– Thursday 28th November 2012 – 1200 hrs
I think I will remember the nights
the most. Gazing up at the star
filled sky, the great clear form of Orion moving across heaven. It will be at the top of the mast at
about 2 am, half way through my watch by then. That’s also when the sky will begin to
lighten, as the moon begins to rise and climbs out of the eastern sea. It will have no top on it. Only it’s lower quarter to act as a
lantern. ‘Tis enough... For now, the sea is black dark to the
distant horizon, whose line divides the slightly lighter, dark grey sky;
occasionally the flicker of a distant vessel’s lights. It is hypnotic to gaze at. Even though we are only three days out,
I think I will remember the nights the most. There is time to sit and
think.
Not like the frantic days before we
left Las Palmas. I suppose I had
certain notions about what to expect, when chartering a boat. A shining, sparkling specimen of
seafaring engineering, tied up at he marina. Everything ship shape and ready to put
to sea. A vessel sleek and
majestic, with spanking new rigging, pulling at its moorings and eager to get to
sea. This does not quite reflect
our reception at the marina in Las Palmas eight days ago.
To start with, there was no
boat! Well to be fair, we knew that
before we arrived. We’d been told
that she was delayed in passage from England and would arrive Thursday. This was on Tuesday. I was given a small cabin aboard our
sister boat, “Misfa”. I shared this
with all the luggage of Misfa’s crew, as well as spare blankets, pillows, sail
bags, life belts and flares. It was
............... cosy.
The next two days passed very
quickly. There were seminars on
topics such as First Aid, the night sky during passage, expected weather for the
route over the next few weeks and demonstrations of rescue at sea by helicopter;
all very exciting. Evenings of
Sundowners (i.e. free beer), meals with those of the crews (ours and Misfa’s),
who had arrived and a fancy dress party.
Good fun, but no sign of Athena until Friday.
On Friday morning, Athena pulled
onto her berth, a few down from Misfa.
We never met her delivery crew, who went early to the airport and
returned to England. She had no
skipper, though one was on the way and indeed he arrived on Friday night. The wear and tear of the passage down to
Las Palmas quickly became evident.
Serious work was needed on the generator, the water desalination, the
battery system, the communications system, parts of the rigging, etc., etc. She had to go through her Safety testing
and be fully stocked for six people for three weeks at sea. In two days!!
Sleeves rolled up everybody and get
stuck in. I still don’t know how we
made the start line at one o’clock on Sunday, but make it we did, with half an
hour to spare.
And so to sea. The first few days
are spent getting used to the new environment, the rocking and swaying. A pattern develops. We fit into the watch system of four
hours on and eight hours off. We
sit and chat, make tea and coffee, cook and wash up. Constantly watching sails and altering
trim. Singing and storytelling come
high on the agenda. And the first
few days pass quickly. It’s hard to
believe we are three days out.
It all goes quickly because there is
always something to do. Except at
night! Then you can sit and
think. Watch the dark horizon. Watch the star filled sky. Watch the course and the breeze playing
with the sails. I think I will
remember the nights the most.
As promised, here is the next verse of the song
“Brendan’s Voyage” by Christy Moore, a little tune about how the Irish Navigator
St Brendan did the first ARC, ARC 501 AD! You’ll notice some liberties have been
taken with the route in the interest of it all rhyming!
Second Verse – Brendan’s Voyage (Christy
Moore)
To make it fast he bent the mast and built up mighty
speed,
Round Tierra del Fuego and up the
warm Gulf Stream (?)
He crossed the last Horizon Mount
Brandon came in sight
And when he cleared the customs off
to Dingle for the night,
When he got to Cordon Bleu, he went
to douse the drought,
He headed West to Kruger's to murder pints of
stout.
Around by Ballyferriter and up the Connor Pass,
he freewheeled into Brandon, the saint was
home at last.
Chorus (we are
not reprinting it you’ll just have to read yesterdays log for
it!)
More tomorrow; to keep you coming.... each day we’ll
rotate the author to give the crew some work to
do!