Tuesday 8th June – Day 2 At Sea (Lini’s Journal)
Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Wed 23 Jun 2010 16:27
First add hot water to galley carpet and mat by ensuring spout of
thermos flask isn’t quite over kettle when filling. Timing is crucial
for the next stage: Take container of muesli from cupboard just as big
wave breaks so when you are thrown into worktop the container can hit
the floor with enough momentum to ensure the lid can fly off,
distributing oats evenly over the warm water. Let soak while counting
to ten. Scoop up mat and serve contents with flare to fish!
The seas were lively!
F5-6 winds on the quarter continued through the day until early
evening when they veered prior to heavy rain. We dug out forgotten wet
weather gear and dropped the thrashing mainsail then making reasonable
progress with only the headsail. While we tucked into pork and steamed
vegetables we had little idea things would soon become busy.
When we came to hoist the mainsail again there had only been a
little slack in the halyard. This however was sufficient in the
rolling seas to loop itself round the radar reflector and spreaders.
Needless to say skipper uttered a naughty word or two! After a
stressful time trying in vane to circle it free from below with the
spare mainsail halyard it was obvious Si would have to go up the mast.
With low, dark cloud and night approaching I suggested sooner rather
than later would be good. I was petrified so can’t imagine how Si
felt. He had already cut his nose on the mast when knocked off balance
by the rolling boat and our spare halyard was now also caught round
the rigging and unable to be used to hoist him up. Tied into the
bossun’s chair Si connected the spinnaker halyard (usually the second
safety line) and with my heart in my throat I winched away. Up above
poor Si swung around and into the swaying mast as he quickly unlooped
the lines and I pulled in the slack. His boots finally landing on the
deck was such a huge relief as I lowered him down. Mainsail now hoist
I offered to do the first night watch, but Si needed to unwind quietly
before he would be able to sleep. As I lay in the sea berth my mind
was with him wishing him calm and not in Lini’s land of nod.