19 18S 169 06W
Libertyatsea10
Wed 1 Sep 2010 08:49
Teeshirts and shorts, 24 seven. Remarkable sunsets and sunrises which we now
almost take for granted. Whales, sharks and big big fish..Magic.
I often wonder what valuable lessons I will take away from this journey, one
is: never go sailing in lace! You may think it has taken some time for this
to occur to me, indeed you are right, far too long and too many scars to
show for it.
Before we left Spain, I was very aware that we were to sail with 220 other
yachts and would share the close confines and intimacies of marina life with
many. I decided to to treat myself to vast quantities of gorgeous
undergarments from one of those Spanish undies shops that make such
beautiful displays of their wares, unlike the M and S approach with which I
am so familiar at home!
You see, after some seasons in and out of marinas , I am sure that certain
more experienced Lady Sailors keep a stash of interesting thongs and fine
lace for wash day. These, they string out on the guard rail for everyone to
admire and ponder as to how they keep their whites so white, whilst their
Bridget Jones numbers are discreetly drip drying in the heads. There have
been occasions when I have noted the washing line and nodded politely to the
Yacht Lady, logging that there must be a much younger Yacht Lady on board,
perhaps a daughter etcetc. But none appear. I wonder then, what miracle
could occur to enable the apparent owner ever manage to fit into or maintain such
delicate finery? So I have deduced what really occurs, it is all for marina
show!
Not to be undone, I was delighted with my purchases, some of which even had
a nautical theme,,,blue ribbons, tiny red touches and the occasional anchor!
I was so excited when I chucked away my boat Bridget Jones cottons, and
packed my new nautical underwardrobe, specially for the ARC. I was
especially pleased to hang out my array of nautical pleasantries on wash
day, I was so smug I could have dressed the boat with my finery (dressing
the boat is when you hang out a stream of flags up to the top of the mast
for special occasions)
Sadly many nm.s later, I have learnt the folly of my ways.
The constant movement of the boat, the safety grip coaming on which one sits
to trim the sails, the salty atmosphere, the heat,....oh ho! I have suffered
the "cockpit bum", which I thought was a myth, (which is akin to trench foot
and exasperated hundredfold by the wearing of ridiculous lace). I will have
the fine print of Fleur de Lys tattooed permanently where I am unlikely to
ever show it! At one point I was having difficulty sitting at all, as each
leaf of the finest Nottingham print was reminding me of my madness.
Only this week, I announced to the crew that I had finally found the answer.
I would create pockets in the bum of my shorts and fill them with padding.
Overtaken by the joy of invention and feeling I had something valuable to
offer the Lady Sailing world as soon as I returned, I stitched happily away.
When I sorted through a locker of clothes yesterday I was devastated to find
my Henry Gill sailing shorts ( hardly worn, too hot) which cost me a
fortune. There, plain as day, were two pockets in the bum, neatly outlined
by extra strong cockpit bum material. Apparently you can buy the designer
padding for a small mortgage too! I had only bought them because the
professional crews all have them and I thought they looked cool. What an
idiot. I never noticed the bum pockets and would not have guessed that they
were functional.
So Henry Gill has beaten me to it. I have discovered nothing, but I have
learnt not to go sailing in lace!
You can tell there is not enough to do ,as we are motor sailing, which is
why I sit writing such drivel.
lol