Almost There
Vega
Hugh and Annie
Thu 21 Jan 2016 12:39
We have 318 miles to go, a three day sail that not long ago would have seemed like a long trip but is now the short final chapter of our journey across the Atlantic. As I write this at 0650 Vega time we are running at 5kts under poled out genoa and reefed mainsail across a smooth sea under bright starlight. The almost full moon that earlier shone like a huge spotlight has now set. The weed free Duogen is gently charging the batteries and no alarms are bleeping. The Hydrovane is silently guiding us on our way. Steve and I swapped watches so that I could get a longer period of unbroken sleep and this worked, marred only slightly by Steve’s loud singing/humming. Sadly singing is not Steve’s forte and it is even harder to ignore when you are exercised by trying to work out what on earth it is that is actually being sung. There are no immediate issues to worry about on the boat and nothing to do but sit back and wish that all sailing could be like this!
What is slightly odd is that I keep my watch and the ships clock on UT which means that for me it is 9am but still dark. This oddness is compounded by the fact that we haven’t put Vega Time back again so it is still only two hours behind UT. We hadn’t really thought about this until now but Annie has just emerged and noticed that it is 0700 VT but still pitch dark (by which I mean night, given the starlight). We have been accustomed to sunrise being at about 0700 but as neither of us has been on watch at this time for a while we had not noticed that sunrise is now “later”. VT will go back another hour today. We could spend our time on Antigua in three times zones………...
While we are generating our own electricity and water and being blown along by the wind marginally faster than a rowing boat, it is easy to think that we could go on indefinitely and happily this way. The reality of course is that we rely upon sophisticated mechanical and electrical systems that we take for granted so long as they are working. If the chart plotter went down and the batteries on the hand held GPS ran out then we really would feel rather more alone on a large sea (and regret not applying ourselves more diligently to learning how to use the sextant). I was reminded of this yesterday when fretting about the boat’s batteries and how to trace and remedy the discharging problem (assuming there is one). I dug out the RYA book on yacht electrics and actually enjoyed the back to basics approach that starts with the theory of electricity and then the concepts of Volts, Amps, Watts, Ohms and so on. I enjoyed it because I could relate what I was reading to the set up we have on the boat i.e. the batteries, wires, regulators, fuses, lamps, pumps and all the electrical equipment the operation of which can be better understood by reference to the RYA book. It also confirmed that what I need is a good reference book and the ability to read and understand it, not an O or A level in physics. I say this because it touches on themes I feel very strongly about and intend to write about in due course. It is actually one of the drivers for this trip and the opportunity to experience life in other parts of the world, however superficially this might be. Much as I love life at home and miss family and friends, there are fundamental aspects of life in the UK that for me are a big problem and mean that for most people social outcomes are not as good as they could be. Our institutional framework and structures are designed to ensure that this remains the case and unless challenged and reformed will lead us towards greater social and economic inequality of which, as current examples, both the campaign to leave the EU and the undermining of Jeremy Corbyn (or any previous Labour party leader) by the UK media are part.
So, as we prepare for landfall, thoughts are turning to hot showers, clean clothes, a good wifi connection, cold beer, meeting up with the Ocean Reunion guys, the chandlery and even a flight home. At the same time there is the realisation that crossing an ocean can be a relatively benign and pleasurable experience and there is even a pang for the crossing to go on a bit longer (I am not writing for everyone on board you will understand in this respect!). The need to be more self reliant when it comes to understanding and maintaining equipment on board is slowly being addressed and confidence in our ability to make this trip is increasing as a result. And there will be time to reflect again on wider issues…………………….