BUT WHAT DO YOU DO ALL DAY????

We have now got into a routine for sailing Sea Topaz just the 2 of us, and we wondered whether you would be interested in sharing it with us. If you have not done this sort of thing it may be quite difficult to picture what a normal day is like in a 3 week passage on a 43 foot sailing yacht, with 2 people on board and with so little to do why you don’t get completely bored.

I think that the first thing to explain is that one of us is always on duty, or “on watch” as we would say.  We are required by law and by commonsense to keep a look out at all times, but it is not just other ships that you are concerned with. It is important to keep an eye on our boat,  the sails and all the running rigging that support these, (we currently have 15 lines controlling the 3 sails we have set) the self steering system, the course, the immediate weather, the radio, the gear that we have stowed on deck, etc etc. This is all fairly relaxed when conditions are gentle, but in stronger winds and big seas, being on watch can be quite tiring. We operate 3 hour watches, basically starting at sunset; normally around 1900. Duncan takes the first watch until 2200, and then wakes Ria for the 2200 to 0100 watch while Duncan sleeps. This continues through to 0700, ie 2 x 3 hour watches each, when we have breakfast. The watch system does continue, but during the day is much less rigid, with either of us being on duty if the other has some task within the boat, such as cooking or servicing the generator etc. For night watches we always wear our lifejacket/harnesses, plus our LifeTag warning bracelet. This sets off a loud alarm if the bracelet is more than 10 metres from the sensor, for example if someone has fallen overboard. Equally we have a rule never to leave the cockpit unless the other person is awake. As well as binoculars, we use the radar to warn of other shipping, but also of rain squalls which, as well as getting you wet, can bring dangerously strong winds.

So from breakfast at around 0700, we start our day routine; preparing food, such as baking bread, any repairs that need doing, servicing of any equipment, running the generator to cool the fridges and freezer and charge up the batteries and if either of us feel tired after the night watches, then trying to grab an hour’s rest. If conditions are reasonable and we need fish, then Duncan usually puts out one or 2 lines over the stern with lures on them; fluffy pinks and fluffy greens seem the most productive. Coffee and biscuits break up the morning, though serving filter coffee on a boat which is heavily rolling can be exciting. The midday fix is important and this is transferred to the chart to confirm our position and progress.  Lunch is taken in the cockpit, usually bread, cold meats, cheese and salad, plus the Sea Topaz special of apple juice and sprite with ice. Ice is such a luxury on a boat and we are so lucky to have our freezer.

We try to get an hour’s rest after lunch, but there is the daily report to send, plus any email correspondence outstanding, and once the emails have been received, then they need to be actioned. Most importantly, our daily weather forecast needs to be analyzed in terms of what we should expect in the way of winds, sea etc and what action we should take to make sure we are as well prepared as possible in terms of sails and course.  There is normally time to read a bit during this period. Afternoon tea usually features at around 1600, and then it is on to the evening meal which is the main meal of the day and we would eat at around 1800 while it is still light. Food is a major issue on passages such as these and Ria worked hard before we left to prepare a number of main meals which were then frozen. This makes the production of a hot tasty meal relatively easy even in difficult conditions when essentially it just needs to be heated up and pasta or rice added. Even so, doing any food preparation when the boat is rolling is a major challenge; put an opened tin of peas down on the work top, turn round for the pan and the peas can be on the other side of the cabin, in fact all over the other side of the cabin!!! Some strong language follows!! While Ria is involved with preparing the evening meal Duncan does his daily skipper’s check, going right round the deck checking all the fittings, bolts, split pins, running rigging, standing rigging, sails etc, looking for wear, chafe, anything broken or not as it should be. The generator is also run for the second hour in the day.

After supper, which is generally taken with a glass or 2 of wine or similar, Duncan brings in the fishing lines and then we settle into the evening watch routine and so life goes on. 

We do have the occasional excitements; seeing dolphins is always wonderful, particularly when they come and play round the bow of the boat. Catching fish can also be quite challenging, we caught a 30 pound Mahi Mahi 3 weeks ago which took some landing, as did the 6 foot long White Marlin we caught and released last week. Seeing another ship is also exciting, it has not happened yet. We might then try and call them on the radio to have a chat.

Generally however, it is more of the same; but we feel very privileged to be doing what we are; to share the natural motion of our lovely yacht Sea Topaz, to experience the beauty and solitude of the ocean, the starlit nights, the sunrises and the sunsets, it is all really, really  special.

      Getting a marlin on board                            Sea Topaz from the stern                            Sea Topaz from the bow