Whatever floats your boat

When you meet a boat for the first time, you think of it as an inanimate object. Without character or substance. But once you get to spend some time with her, you realize there is far more to it than just a mere boat. I have never seen an ugly boat. Sometimes odd looking, sometimes impractical, but never ugly. You go through all the systems, check how they all function, and make sure everything is working fine. You normally have a few hands on board to assist or to just sail along. During a short day sail, you get a feel for how the boat reacts under different conditions.

You then prepare for a longer trip, and sailing at night with watch systems in place. It is during your watches that you really get to know the boat. When everyone is sound asleep, and you are alone on watch with the stars and the moon and the dark sea. It is then that you really start bonding with the boat. When you start hearing little noises and squeaks. Important that you listen to these noises, and make sure everything is and stay shipshape. Even when you are not on watch, as captain, you stay attuned to the sound and motion of the boat.

During easy passages the boat mostly stays a boat. Once you have experienced some heavier weather though, you built some trust in the boat, and you realize she is a good boat. You look after her, and she will look after you. Very true on boats. We spend weeks at sea without stopping, and when we stop, it is not long before we long to get back to boat and out on the ocean blue. Dame Ellen McArthur wouldn't leave her boat after winning a non stop around the world race. It took a while for her team to get her to step ashore and face all her fans and the media. That is how one sometimes bond to a boat.

I guess everyone reacts different to boats. For many people it is just a thing that floats. For some of us, it is where we live and eat and sleep. It is our temple, our platform from where we can observe nature as it has been since the seas first formed. Our carriage that takes us across vast stretches of ocean. For me, it remains a miracle, a mystery.

On our boat currently, we've had the gennaker up for a few days and nights on the trot. A bit of rain now and then, but consistently good sailing conditions.

Catch up again tomorrow

Paul



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