38:20.0N 032:34.5W Midday (BST) Fix 31 May 2010 Changing Mood
Oboe D'Amore's Web Diary
Nigel Backwith
Mon 31 May 2010 13:08
2010
View our progress on Google Earth at: http://blog.mailasail.com/oboe
GPS Position: 38:20.0N 032:34.5W
Sea Miles (previous 24 Hours): 138nMs
Sea Miles to date: 3,002nMs
Present Course Over Ground: 097°M
Present Boat Speed 7.6kts
Average Boat Speed (previous 24 hours): 5.8kts
Average Boat Speed to date: 6.1kts
Estimated GPS Position in 24 hours time: 38°:30'N 029°:30'W
Sea State: Calm with swell. Incessant rain!
Wind Speed and Direction: 13kts NE
Barometric Pressure: 1014mB
Fourteen days out of Bermuda and very noticeable is the calm that has
settled over Oboe and crew. Few words are spoken. Books are read and iPods
heard. The pink chart table laptop, usually reserved for data comms.,
progress management, fuel and power management and wind predictions has
given way to a violent Scorsese film. Eye contact brings with it a knowing
nod, returned with an equally knowing grin and raise of the eyebrows.
Everyone knows that counting the days out of Bermuda has now become counting
the hours in to Horta, a mere 36 hours according to the chart plotter and
this subtle switch has brought with it an increased sense of belonging,
friendship, personal achievement and inner satisfaction. The team has
matured and individual self-confidence has risen to new heights.
Individuals are saying quietly to themselves: "I've sailed across the
Atlantic Ocean in a small plastic boat". I can tell you with absolute
certainty that this is what ocean sailing is all about, if you get it right.
There is a feeling of wellbeing on board despite the ever-increasing pile of
damp, salt-encrusted clothing adorning the makeshift clothes line strung
across the forepeak cabin. Provisioning is nigh on perfect, with David's
penne arrabiata and Maggie's famous apple crumble served for dinner last
night. Our 60 litre/hour water maker continues to provide fresh drinking
water and plenty of hot, reviving showers. The electric kettle delivers
numerous brews and of course there is Top Ramen available to warm the belly
of even the soggiest crew member at the end of a cold, wet night watch!
Humour and laughter play a big part of the day. Everyone is at ease and
able to poke fun at the quirks and foibles of others. The banter flows,
often triggered by an unintentional double entendre. David has become
Beverage; Rob, the Old Retainer. Ryan, well Ryan's Ryan of the
multi-persona, be it Jonty, his imaginary friend or Ginger ("Don't do it
ducky, you've got no legs! Too late Ginger, I'm going in!) or a Bristolian
in a perfectly played out scene from the Bristol Cider Festival. He is the
Court Jester and as we all know, the jesters held favour at court through
feigned idiocy and hidden cunning. Jesters are King-makers!
So, here we are with winds peculiarly from the northeast, genoa hard on the
shrouds, Oboe heeled with water lapping the s'bord gunnels, beating and
eating up the miles to Horta and as we power along I am reminded of the
lines I think of a Lionel Richie song: "One more night, just one more night
..."
Nigel
Date: 31 May 2010