Monday 14th June – Day 8 At Sea (Lini’s Journal)
Brindabella's Web Diary
Simon Williams
Wed 23 Jun 2010 16:49
horizon: The sun began its ascent. A dome of clues of the approaching
front allowed only brief spells when the sun, in all its morning glory
was permitted to unroll a dazzling yellow carpet towards us on calm,
oily seas. Now was a strange time for me to flick through my iPod for
my audio book but stop instead at ‘I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker’ by
Sandi Thom. In the stillness of the new day tears rolled gently down
my cheeks as vocals and percussion drummed loudly in my ears. I was
transported back to Ami’s graduation fashion show where everyone stood
in praise, clapping the rhythm and applauding her collection on the
catwalk. Overwhelmed my heart burst once again with pride of that day
when Mia Mai was born and her talent and relenting hard work were
rewarded. Yes, I miss my babies!
With nought going on on deck I sent a shattered looking skipper
back to his dreams at 8am. Things were spookily still, light grey and
hazy with a, dare I say it, ‘lull before the storm’ feel about it.
Going by the GRIB files this morning however we should just skirt
around the edge of the low being this far south.
Late morning while Si checked the rig, masses of small dark
dolphins approached on a feeding frenzy. They were probably the most
acrobatic we’ve seen so far, literally jumping for joy at the feast
before them and some almost somersaulting. The flat seas gave us a
great view and lifted our spirits.
The winds were frustratingly weak and variable today forcing us to
motor yet again: What a good job Brindabella has large fuel tanks and
we know there is plenty of wind to come. I can’t ever remember having
to use the engine so much. Late afternoon we chanced the ParaSailor
which proved a terrible ordeal in rolly seas and barely feasible
winds. Imagine an 18metre stocking suspended by its toe to the top of
a twiggy branch on a see-saw! The sock swung, twisted and caught round
the forestay as Si tried to raise the snuffer and untwist the lines on
something resembling a dancing Chinese dragon kite. He angrily barked
instructions and still had steam pouring from his ears when finally it
unravelled, burst into shape and I exhaled at last. Within minutes the
wind died again and we had to drop the sail again! I had a little lie
down to regain my nerves and allow my innards to untangle!
Herb’s SSB Weather Net heard similar stories of boats becalmed, but
things will change tomorrow. We continue to head east waiting for a
window to cut through the procession of lows to sail north east to
Flores.