Against the Wind

On Island Home, things have calmed down drastically. Becalmed is a word
that comes to mind, but we still have a slight breeze helping us along. And our
weather forecast for the next four days shows that there won't be much change
in the weather either. We do have a full suite of sails to optimize any
sailable winds. But when you have no wind, we have to use our iron sails, or
iron maidens as some will call it. Motoring day in and day out over a vast
expanse of blue sea and blue sky. We are about 200nm south of Madagascar, and
about 600nm to cover before we will arrive in Mauritius.

To expand on the sails we carry on our Maverick 440 we have the following.
Standard on most boats we have the mainsail, which runs up the mast and is
our main source of propulsion when conditions allow. On the front we have
the genoa, or headsail, or jib which rolls up on itself. Depending on the
strength of wind and the wind angle, we normally use the main and headsail
to create forward motion. They work well from about 45 degrees to 120
degrees. Close hauled to a beam reach at 90 degrees and a broadreach at 120
degrees. Our most powerful angle of sail is 75 degrees. We can adjust the
size of the main and headsail which is called reefing. In stronger winds we
will have less sail out, in lighter winds we fly full main and genoa. In
our bag of tricks we also have a screecher. Similar principle as the
headsail, but much bigger and lighter material. Depending on the seastate
the screecher works well in light winds between 60 - 120 degrees. When the
wind comes in from behind, we have a genikar. Also a huge sail, nearly
twice the size of the screecher. Very powerful when the wind fills it, and
good for up to 20kts of wind. And when the wind gets really strong we also
have a storm jib. Really strong is anything from 40 kts upwards and pushing
in from behind. When we sail with the wind from behind we are on a run. So
yes, we have all the sails for all possible conditions, except no wind.
Sails need wind to work :) And yes, we can sail and make good miles against
the wind, as long as it is not closer that 45 degrees. We call that 45
degree triangle the no go zone. No ways we can sail directly into the wind.
Although we often use the mainsail when we are motoring against the wind.
It gives us a slightly better speed, and also acts as huge rudder in a way
to keep the boat dead into the wind whilst motoring.

On our route from Cape Town to Madagascar we had fronts coming through
from when the winds blow from a westerly direction. As the front moves over
the wind would back, or turn anti-clockwise by about 20 degrees every three
hours or so. It does a complete 360 degrees in the process, and we try and
optimize all the different angles. We are now a little bit too high south to
have much effect from the cold fronts moving west to east. Also interesting
to observe all the different cloud patterns. The direction of the swell
also to an extend follow the wind direction. And all this reminds me once
again that the only constant factor in nature is change. Sometimes very
gradually, sometimes very suddenly, but always changing. Thus far we had no
luck with fishing. Not due to not trying. We have our lures out everyday.
Changing the lures now and then, but so far, no fish. Lets hope that will
also change :)

In a previous blog I mentioned the amazing creation and saving of space
featured on the Maverick 440. That was inside the saloon and cabins. On the
outside, the same principle applies. In the cockpit area, there is a corner
table with seating, and another more central table that can be lowered and
raised right up to the coach roof, completely out of the way. A long seat
below the raised table also fits perfectly to eat from once the table is
lowered. And further back, between the davits, there is also a very sturdy
hammock that can comfortably seat four adults. On all four corners of the
Maverick there are also very generous dolphin seats with arm rests.
Although we are six on the boat, one never feels cramped for space, never.
Another feature I love about the Maverick is the special built-in spaces
where one can store all the working ropes. We never really call ropes ropes
on a boat, but ropes they are anyway. Every rope on a boat has a specific
name and for a very good reason. Halyards and sheets and lines etc. For
example the main halyard. We use that to hoist the mainsail. You then also
have a genikar halyard, to raise the genikar. Sheets normally determine the
angle of the boom, lines roll in the genoa on a roller furler drum, and you
also have reef lines that hold the mainsail to the boom at different
heights. In order to raise the mainsail for example it would be very
confusing to just use the word rope for all the different ropes we need to
set the sail properly. Fortunately the ropes also have different colours to
make it a bit less complicated. But once you have spent a little time on
any boat, you will get to know the ropes very well. Sound a bit more
complicated than what it is I think, but if you want to sail, it will be a
breeze to learn the ropes. We use winches to control most of the ropes, and
on this Maverick, we have two electric winches. The way they are positioned
also makes for easy sail adjustments and changes. I wonder if one gets a
Bentley Sport. I know you get Bentley convertibles. If I have to compare
the Maverick to some car, this is the closest I can get. Check the Maverick
out on Google, and see if you can get a better comparison :) The generous,
understated and confident lines of the Maverick certainly makes it one of a
kind.

On board we also have a watermaker, or desalinator to be technically more
correct. And a washing machine. And radar, AIS, B&G instruments,
airconditioning, flatscreen tv, music system, two huge freezers and a
refrigerator, Force 10 gas stove with oven, VHF, liferaft, self inflating
life jackets and the list goes on and on. In short, living in the lap of
luxury. Oh yes, and a coffee machine as mentioned in a previous blog, and a
guitar :)

Four of us are doing the watches. Three hours each, my watches are 12 to 3 am
and pm. Normally my watches rotate as we are usually three on board. Which means
no set sleeping pattern. On this trip however our watch system affords us the
luxury of a set sleeping pattern. Even so, I am on call 24/7 should any problems
arise. Last night was a good example. Two hours after my watch ended, a ship
caused us a few problems. Jasmijn who was on watch had to wake me as we were on
a collision course with a ship that was bearing down on us quite quick. The rule
on the sea is that boats/ships pass port to port when you are on a collision
course. I altered course by 20 degrees to starboard, and unexpectedly the ship
altered his course to port, instead of starboard. I changed another 30 degrees
to starboard, and once again the ship altered his course to port, which kept us
on a collision course. I called him on the VHF radio,and we decied that we will
pass starboard to starboard, or green to green. I altered course 50 degrees to
port and he altered slightly to port. Ten minutes later we passed each other
with about two nautical miles between us, quite close on the ocean.

We also caught our first fish yesterday, at long last, and a dorado at that.
After filleting the fish and cutting it into portions, we bagged most of it. We
also had some sushimi. Raw fish with pickled ginger, soya sauce, lemon and
wasabi. Perhaps it is a bit of an acquired taste. But it tasted heavenly, and
what we didn't eat raw, we fried in a pan. For lunch today we had you guess
what.Fish and rice. After weeks of mostly red meat, what a pleasure to have
fresh fish on your plate. I wrote this blog over a few days, and yes, things did
change, as they always do. The current that was pushing us down south has now
released us and we are now sailing east. Soon we will be able to turn up towards
Mauritius. The moon is waning, and soon we will be able to marvel at all the
stars above us. Water temperature has gone up to 25*C. Another few days and we
will be in Mauritius. A few days could be five days, or six, or maybe seven.
Most important, we are having a lot of fun on a beautiful boat. I sincerely hope
that you will also have a bit of fun today. It is your choice after all what you
do with your life. Dare to be different, dare to be authentic, dare to be a
Maverick :)))