Race 10 - Day 21
Crew Diary - Race 10 Day 21
18 April
It’s not the end of the world- it’s the other side
N 41°57.918 W 172°31.207
With the longitude of 172° passing by, I’m on the other side of the world, opposite of what I call home. The furthest distance I’ve ever been away from it.
There’s nothing else than the ocean around our boat and me.
The next landmass is either the Aleutian Islands to the north, Hawaii to the south, Japan in our back or North America with our destination Seattle 2000NM in front of our bow.
The distances are mind boggling as is the ever-changing scenery that passes by every day.
It’s hard to not get emotional with all the beauty surrounding us. But it feels good. Really good.
It’s the soul food that stills the hunger of those like us that long for this kind of experience. Those that appreciate the simplicity, the minimalism and the at the same time immense complexity that nature provides and the beauty it creates by this. Those of us who can stare endlessly at the waves, the clouds and the night sky. Those of us who are awestruck by the albatross skimming the wave tops, those of us who get excited by the single blow of a whale. Those of us who travel far, who are willing to make sacrifices, take all sort of hardships on them to be a witness, to be a small part of this place in time and try to still their hunger for more.
For us, it’s not the end of the world- it’s just the other side.
From the ocean, under sail
In my ear:
In my mind (a first one for me, be gentle):
The Ocean
The Ocean.
Birthplace of life.
Deep, endless body of unknown darkness.
Raw, untamed, ever changing seascape.
His bottom another world to ours.
His body full of life alien to us.
With no ruler other than nature herself.
Here long before you and me.
Here long after you and me.
His blue colour being the trademark of our home,
as we’re floating in the vast, black space of nothing.
He doesn’t owe you anything.
He doesn’t gift you anything.
He doesn’t ask anything from you.
But approached humbly, he provides you with what you need.
Trespassed respectfully he rewards you with his magnificence.
And for the time you’re here, he’s everything for you.
Out here right now,
the fluid blue mass below,
the black and blue emptiness above,
no land to be seen for days,
no break, no escape, no turning back,
the sole mind might feel insignificant and small,
but nonetheless there’s a reason for everyone on this boat
to be here and exist in this very time and place.
Depended on each other,
bound by the daily needs,
united by the common goal,
driven by joy, passion and curiosity,
on mission,
each by his own and together as a team,
for a certain time on what is our home:
The Ocean.