Crew Blog

Better than I hoped

02 May 2008

Having sailed with a spinnaker up for several days now, we new leggers are getting to grips with the various manoeuvres and, importantly, learning the nomenclature of the numerous lines (never called ropes). This involves understanding that they change their names according to current function and that the colour coding has absolutely no logic. Hence the two preventers are blue at the end of the boom, but one becomes red by the time it gets to the snakepit. It then becomes the downhaul when attached to the spinnaker pole, whilst the staysail halyard becomes the uphaul, but is often referred to as the topping lift (not to be mistaken for the main topping lift) and the guy becomes the outhaul, but is independent of the sheet. Sounds confusing? Fortunately the old hands are very patient as we attempt to ease or grind the correct blue/red/striped line.

However the ins, outs, ups and downs of the sailing is like a reflection of the boat as a whole. It is a fascinating psychological study of how people cope with such intense togetherness and is being observed and filmed by Vic, our delightful onboard media person. We are getting used to being filmed in the middle of the night, when generally not looking our best, or chatting frankly to her about our emotions since being on board.

Currently with glorious sunshine, perfect temperatures, a flat sea and light winds everyone is upbeat and Durban 2010 and Beyond is definitely a happy microcosm of self sufficiency, alone on a vast Pacific ocean, apart from frequent welcome sightings of dolphins, whales, birds and fish, as well as spectacular sunsets, sun and moonrises and starry skies.

This has far exceeded what I hoped for when I signed up. Jamaica here we come!

Gill