18:39.000S 173:35.300E - The Longest Short Passage Ever!
Irene IV - World Adventure
Louis Goor
Sat 23 Jul 2022 01:31
The morning of the 16th July dawned like many others with a beautiful
sunrise, a warm 2.5 knot easterly breeze, and a crew full of anticipation at
the prospect of discovering a new land. Vanuatu had been taken off the
itinerary with borders still closed due to Covid. On the 1st July the travel
ban was lifted and we were delighted to sail on a westerly course towards
this little known island nation. The forecast warned of mounting winds
moving gradually south. We braced ourselves for a challenging sail with
winds gusting into the 30's.
Little did we know that our small crew of 4 would all go down with bouts of
queasiness of varying degrees so far into our journey. The sea state became
increasingly mountainous. The lurching, bouncing, and battering felt like
multiple roller coasters bumping into each other from different directions
at high speed. We, the pawns in the roller coaster cars, were thrown about
like rag dolls in a washing machine. There was no let up. Our limp figures
were pitched from side to side, the cold rained drenched bodies and boat,
the wind howled and gusted, reaching 41 knots at one point deep in the dark
night, and the retching continued.
George took to his bed and did not reappear until 36 hours later. Louis,
Rob, and Sabine doggedly alternated between watch and sleep, green gilled,
but unwavering.
A roast chicken and some hastily boiled potatoes lay lonely in the galley,
sporadically nibbled on when a crew member felt marginally well. Dry
crackers and water were the preferred diet.
It was the longest short passage ever!