20:00.357S 157:01.258E - The Sights, Sensations, and Songs of the Seas
Irene IV - World Adventure
Louis Goor
Fri 29 Jul 2022 05:51
Sailing west towards Australia on our 1100-mile journey, our senses are
treated to a feast of colour, texture, sensation, and sound. Into day 4 of
what will probably be a 7-day passage, we become accustomed to our slanted
home, worthy of a Dr. Seuss construction. We adjust to having one leg
longer than the other as we hobble around the decks and cabins, grabbing
for foot hold and hand hold at every step. On a port tack the whole way,
the right-hand side of the boat is appreciably lower than the left-hand
side, the inclinometer hovers permanently around 15˚. The sea state is
rolling, with a short distance between waves. Glittering white horses,
reflecting the sun, break, and splash, in sizzling spurts, adding visual
interest to the surrounding seascape. As Irene IV cruises through the waves
effortlessly, she creates her own music - a harmonious music of wind
against waves, bow against crests, occasional cymbal crashes of spray
cascading over the spray hood, the frothy wake gushing and spluttering
behind us, like the oozing, creamy head on a pint of Guinness.
A couple of nights ago the weather turned grey and murky. The sky became an
ominous black, portending rain, thunder, and lightening. The decks were
well washed, and we had a flashing night sky show all to ourselves. With
winds between 18-25 knots consistently, the roar is often deafening. We are
constantly entranced by the grand music of the ocean orchestra, with sails
flapping and slapping, lines and sheets clanging percussively, waves
crashing explosively, Irene IV skidding along like an elegant figure
skater, and the wind wailing a mournful song. It is necessary to withdraw
down below occasionally to rest the overstimulated ears.
Sleeping between watches is erratic. Muscles are permanently engaged as
the boat heaves from side to side, back and forth, in an attempt to stay on
the bunk and not be rudely jettisoned onto the hard unforgiving floor.
Muscles are exercised in more subtle ways raising up and down the crests
and troughs of the waves on a boat.
Here, halfway to our destination of Mackay, on the eastern seaboard of
Australia, 550 miles under our belt, we sing to the song of mother nature
and forego the constraints of father time.
Review of the book “No More Plastic” by Chris Packham
By George
This book is a short 146 page sensation! The author’s writing style made
the book a gripping read. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t stop reading
until the end.
The book was about the simple things we can do in our everyday lives that
will make all the difference to the amount of plastic waste we generate.
Basically, Packham came up an idea, which he called the 2-minute solution.
He posted #2-minute-solution on social media and it went viral. The 2-
minute solution is based on starting a 2-minute timer and doing something
simple to avoid plastic waste. For example, pick up as much plastic waste
as possible wherever you are, or avoid buying a banana wrapped in plastic
because it has its own natural wrapping. If a lot of people rise to this
challenge, the amount of plastic waste will be reduced. Packham gives us
about 30 2-minute solutions, with a check list, so we can easily know what
to do. In the book, he describes, how easy it is to do nothing because the
problem is so big, but the truth is, just one piece of plastic picked up
could save an animal’s life. This book really had an impact on me. I am
going to try the 2-minute solution challenge.