Day 14.
Our Christmas wishes came true and we have been blessed with wind. However,
we are still awaiting the ever elusive trade winds to give us some horizontal
relief - for now life on a slant continues - we are sure this wasn't in the
brochure!
We are currently on night watch and sailing under the most stunning half
moon with a sky full of glittering stars. The sea is glistening and we are all
grinning contentedly as head ever closer to the Pina Coladas awaiting us. As
enjoyable as our luxury pond spa beauty experience was this is much better
than moving at 0.01 knots on a glassy sea. Here is an idea of how watches have
gone over the last few days and what we are definitely not missing now:
- The sound of the main flogging every five seconds is followed by a loud
unidentified creak.
- The crew undergo an hour of relentless unfurling and furling of the jib
to take advantage of the 3 knots rather than 2 knots of wind on our
instruments.
- Whopping with joy at 0.02 knots sounds from the helmswoman who can
feel a little pressure in her big toe/little finger.
- Give up furling/unfurling and continue efforts to make conversation
interesting e.g. discussing in detail the exact way you each eat a kit-kat
chunky.
Two very important milestones have been reached today:
1. Our first 24 hour stint without a wind hole - something we were
beginning to doubt would be forthcoming.
2. We have reached the half-way mark on our epic journey!
The 14 days it has taken to find us midway between Las Palmas and Rodney
Bay has taken us longer than we had originally anticipated. However, this
doesn't detract from what we have achieved together as a team. We have had some
personal moments which deserve a minute or two to feel a little self-indulgent
and well deserved pride. There is still some way to go but the strength of nine
women working as a cohesive unit is a sound basis for getting through the trials
and tribulations ahead. That and our fantasies of fresh food and cold beer that
await us in St. Lucia.
We decided to delay our half way party and our extra special tinned food
slap up meal until tomorrow; A plastic cup of champers loses its edge slightly
when it gains air and slides off the 'table' - napkin laid down on fibreglass
deck floor - we are of course as classy as ever. Instead we thought it would be
a good opportunity to get some beauty sleep ... it was not quite as peaceful as
the saloon residents imagined however:
Sleeping in saloon berths experience:
#1. Securely tie lee cloth to D rings at either end of saloon sofas to
ensure a snug, hammock-like berth that rocks us gently to sleep as Hot Stuff
cuts through the waves at 7 knots.
#2. Throw in musty sheet and pillow to avoid skin-to-leather adhesive
effect in exclusive saloon sauna. (now in high contest with aft cabins - prices
become competitive)
#3. Scissor hurdle lee cloth and wedge body to appropriate side of sofa,
depending on 45 degree heel of boat and pray for a 'tack-free' night.
#4. Resolve to take further knot tying tuition in the morning as you
gracefully fall out of lee cloth.
#5. Feel very sorry for yourself.
#6. Re-tie lee cloth with 4 amateur 'two round turns and a half-hitch knot'
in the hope that one of them holds.
#7. Scissor hurdle back in.
#8. Having found a comfy position after 10 minutes of serious wriggling,
realise that tales of losing weight on the Arc are a myth as your body fails to
defy gravity and lee cloth strains to keep your body off of the floor.
#9. Starboard side dwellers face the added hurdle of wedging body between
sofa back and spinnaker. Whilst port side dwellers require extra padding
courtesy of a mouldy sleeping bag to deflect the late night bumps as those on
watch squeeze by to grab life-jackets or use the heads.
#10. Two hours after bracing muscles and limbs against each and every
available surface sleep takes hold. Then prepare for a rude awakening by one or
all of the following:
- Projected green new potato flown sling-shot from a swinging
hammock.
- Soggy leggings falling from handrail now doubling up as a washing line
for clothing that never actually seems to dry.
- Flying inanimate objects from opposite side of saloon as Hot Stuff tacks
to gain better winds.
- hungry watch keeper finding you make a good snack table whilst routing in
the cupboards for a tasty treat.
- newly awoken watch dripping water and spraying toothpaste during
teeth-cleaning activities in the galley as they fail to steady water bottle and
45 degree angle.
With such a restful beauty sleep, the fairies will be ready to shine as we
celebrate our midpoint Caribbean style tomorrow.
With love and fairy dust from the Girls4Sail crew on
Hotstuff.