15:36.23S 155:51.36W
Farr Gone Blog
Stuart Cannon
Fri 17 Jun 2011 21:32
If it weren't for the deadline of getting to Apia I would just go with the flow but the low speeds have me a little concerned about the arrival time so I spend the time getting what speed I can out of her.
I was up on the bow last night taking photos of the sunset, another quite magnificent event, and I leaned over and took a photo of the bow wave. Much to my surprise a perfect reflection in the glassy water of me taking the picture. And there is that colour of the water. Definitely my favourite colour.
Last night was so still I shortened sail further, put on alarms and had four hours great sleep. I awoke to find we had done 12 miles so maybe I should sleep more and sail less. Might get there quicker. Not really as we are doing 4 right now and occasionally I see 5.
The surprising thing about ocean passage is the constant variability. The waves, the wind everything are constantly changing and in this quiet state it is immeasurably beautiful. I'm reminded about how priviledged I am by the beauty of my surroundings and the occasional sat phone call regarding shade sail repairs which seems alien out here. The tranquility of the sea and the gentle breeze induces an almost catatonic state where detachment is almost complete. I feel like Albert Camus veiwing it all from the outside. Even the act of feeding myself is done only because I should. I'm not hungry or tired and certainly not stressed and yet in normal terms I should be all of those things. Sleep wise I get plenty of naps, foodwise I think my build allows me to be a bit like a camel, plenty stored up sadly, and it seems that no matter what happens out here there is no real stress, every now and again a problem to solve but I enjoy that. I realise of course that I am in a fibreglass shell out in the middle of an enormous sea but feel safer and more secure than ever. I only have to turn my head slightly to the right and I can watch the water sliding by the window. The sun is shining and the feeling is great.