Saturday 8th May (Lini’s Journal)
Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Sun 16 May 2010 02:27
Three years ago today we took delivery of Brindabella from the
Hallberg Rassy yard in Sweden. I shall never forget that wonderfully
exciting morning and never dreamt that I would sail across oceans in
her or share this amazing adventure with Simon. Birthday parties are
on hold for now however with so much to do and it was a very early
start to prepare for sea.
In contrast to yesterday, today was dry, sunny and stiflingly hot
as I winched Si up the mast for rig checks. With strong winds forecast
at times I would really have liked to have swapped the large genoa for
the much more manageable jib but Si thought it unnecessary. With
everything now on schedule for a 2pm departure I took some time out to
Skype family. I managed to chat to Julie, Dan then Ami which cheered
me up no end. I miss them all so much and we so rarely manage to chat.
I quickly opened my emails with messages from friends in the UK, ARC
friends who are crossing the Pacific and one from Ami with a forwarded
letter from her boss who has just left. My, how very proud I am that
not just a mother can share such wonderful feelings about a daughter.
She really is a special person no doubt and always has wonderful extra
messages in her greetings cards telling her so.
We had an early lunch in sweltering heat that left everyone
literally melting with soggy clothes clung to dripping bodies. There
was still room in the icebox so I had zipped to the shop and bought
ice cream and sorbet to surprise Si after our departure. We fuelled up
and it was heaven to then have time for a quick dip in the lovely
complex pool which looked out over their beach to the other islands.
What a shame we hadn’t had time to take full advantage of the
facilities. I did dash to the main bathrooms for my shower however
which were reported as the best marina facilities in the Caribbean. My
personal shower room was tastefully decorated in green/ grey slate
with white porcelain loo and square basin set onto a slatted wooden
unit with matching wood side table. I luxuriated with girly bubbles
rinsed with gallons of cooling water before returning outside to a
sauna! By the time I reached Brindabella I was ready for another
shower.
At 2.30pm we began another chapter in our adventure. We bid
farewell to Phillip and Lynda with plans to keep in touch by VHF and
off we both set for Bermuda. With the wind on the nose we soon gave up
beating between the islands in favour of being clear of Anegada by
dusk and motor sailed away from the beautiful BVIs while enjoying
treats from the icebox. Brindabella’s birthday was toasted with a beer
and a fantastic sunset and after an early supper and a chat to
‘Festina Lente’ I started my usual first off watch at 7pm: I didn’t
sleep.
It usually takes a day or so to settle into our watch system and I
was anxious as ever about my first night watch at 10pm. We also had a
stowaway: A noisy fellow who buzzed around my ears and nibbled my
knees while I desperately tried to rest. The wind was a kind ESE F4/5
though and on watch I gradually became comfortable with the
environment, although I was still unable to sleep during my next off
watch. Luckily Si settled down really quickly and managed some
reasonable sleep for a first night. It was a huge comfort to see
‘Festina’s’ stern light up ahead through the night; the ocean is a
beautiful but lonely place at times.