Quest's Questions

Quest
Jack and Hannah Ormerod and Lucia, Delphine & Fin
Thu 25 May 2017 10:35
Position: 10:40.7N 61:38.4W

25th of May. Trinidad. How on Earth did we get here? 

You know when life muddles up like a dirty puddle? When everything that seemed as solid as you could build it becomes impossible to find? It’s a strange life, this life. It’s true. For all the amazing moments. Over the last month there’s been lots of questions on Quest. If you name a boat Quest.. typical. Still, I guess it happens to all of us; if you happen to live in a house, on a boat, up a tree. These periods of instability. 

We’ve known for a while that we have to go home. UK home. Land home. Hold on.. land? I’d just got to that point when I didn’t miss living on land anymore. Or even next to land. For all a boat’s energy-based restrictions.. ‘Don’t use that laptop, we need it charged for tomorrow morning!’ is a popular line on Quest. As well as, ‘No, sorry you can’t go online,’, ‘Who left the light on in the bathroom?’ and ‘No, we can’t turn the air con on. Even though we’re melting.’ Oh yeah. Good times...  

Still, since we jumped on Quest like newbies straight out of Milford Haven, we had to get used to Quest’s quirks and learn things the hard way. Forgot to turn the inverter off until dark? Damn. Forgot to lock the fridge over night? Now a river of water is running towards the generator? Oops. We didn’t choose this life for its unconventionality. Adventure maybe. Throughout, our Cap felt the folds of our sails and ferried us safely. I might have whispered something about warm waters. With the adventure, we’ve discovered some constant questions. They include: is the anchor holding? Where’s the wind? Do I have enough dinghy fuel? How much water is in the bilges? Are the toilets flushing properly? Your boat is your house cum your car cum your playground. Your floating microcosm. For me, this fact first hit home watching our friend Nicole from Invictus, a new Lagoon catamaran, walk past us on the dock at Las Palmas. She was planning to take her daughters shopping. As she was chatting, her phone began to alarm. She sighed. Invictus was sending her an alarm message. She turned around, ready to go back. ‘Invictus always comes first.’ 

But you get used to it. Of course, it helps when you find an anchorage with resident eagle rays. And when it’s three in the morning, your sails are out and just by the wind you’re going just slightly faster than a mobility scooter. Heading somewhere you’ve never been before. This is a good feeling. Also when the fishing reel begins to buzz like it’s on fire and your daughter jumps up enthusiastically right by her father, ready to reel their catch in. You shake your head. When would they have done this at home? 

To be continued..

Love from Quest and her crew xx