Isla Mujeres, Part 2.
Sarah Grace goes to sea
Chris Yerbury and Sophy White
Sun 15 Apr 2007 00:49
|
What a
fortnight! It was very sad seeing Soph and our wonderful girls
disappearing into the throng at Cancun airport, our eyes meeting for the last
time in months. We have all had such an huge amount of such precious time
together on Sarah Grace that ending this chapter in our lives was never going to
be easy.
The first week was
spent adjusting to being one of those male single-handers that you always feel a
bit sorry for and who provoke in me insatiable curiosity- so
many unaskable questions. Why are you on your own? Do you
really like being afloat alone? Do you have any family/loved ones anywhere? If
so, why aren't they with you or you with them? Where is home? Wouldn't you
rather be sailing with someone? How did you get to be living life like this?
What makes it all worthwhile for you? I suppose I'm not good at long
term aloneness and want to know how other people get into that position and
how manage it.
Fortunately one of
the best magic tricks of the modern world meant that I could just plug
a headset into the side of this laptop and chat from the marina forecourt
to those back home,
the sounds of exotic birds and the wind in the rigging providing a backdrop to
my voice. Suddenly the seperation doesn't feel so great and maybe I'm not
one of those male single-handers or maybe they are just like me after all.
It was a
pretty slow few days with lots of clearing up and re-arranging aboard
in preparation for Iain + Karen's arrival late on friday night.
By noon
saturday Gem had also appeared in the anchorage after their passage
from Cuba and suddenly there were 5 for lunch on SG and a party of 7
heading ashore for supper together that evening. Lars and Karolina the
Norwegians on Makai who we had seen at most of the harbours through Cuba had
also reappeared and made up the numbers. This life was back
to its usual very sociable level.
I'll leave
Iain and Karen to describe their impressions of yachty life as they cast
their fresh eyes on the scene. Suffice to say that it is really good to have
their company and I'm sure SG will make good speed with their
help.
Now it is all eyes on
the weather forecast charts as we look for an opportunity to sail to Havana.
Having returned yesterday evening from a 4 day exploration of more Mayan ruins
during favourable sailing weather, it seems we may not be able to get away from
here until the middle of next week. I can't wait to get going, every mile sailed
now will be homeward!
|