Under way...
W2N 'Where to Next?'
Rob 'Bee' Clark
Sat 14 Mar 2009 03:15
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18:21.5S 4:50.6W
Funny how things go don't you think!?
Not that I needed an excuse to stay on St Helena
but for the past three weeks, I've been waiting for an engine part to arrive on
the supply ship RMS St Helena. Well, as I said in the last blog entry, she was
delayed again but when she did finally arrive on Tuesday and unloaded her
cargo from Ascension, my pump was still in the freight-forwarding warehouse in
Bristol... D'oh!
It's some consolation that a rather resourceful
local chap called Larry was able to fix the old pump and as I write, I'm
underway on route to Luderitz some 1400Nm away while my expensive 'spare' pump
is heading back to the supplier in the UK. I actually left on Thursday evening
under a setting sun and a bright full moon listening to my friend Paul (who also
runs the world's most remote distillery making 'Tungi' from the cactus fruit!)
dedicate the song 'Onward' by Yes in my honour on Saint FM. It's
indicative of the past few weeks and ironic that my most memorable adventures on
the island all happened since being delayed. My parting gesture was to co-host a
music show with Zac and Ben on Saint FM but whilst I left under a cloud of
sadness, the game goes on, the conditions so far have been perfect and
in my own small way, I've left an impression on an
extraordinary island community that I have come to regard with enormous
affection.
I should just apologise to all those people I
didn't get around to saying goodbye to and to those who've emailed me but had no
response. Zac is one of them but he will know exactly what I mean when I say
that with every landfall, there are unrealistic and empty promises to "keep in
touch" that just cannot be honoured. I was made so welcome on St Helena and met
some fascinating people who will be remembered fondly. So, to all my new friends
on St Helena, you know who you are, it is with absolute sincerity that I say
"please keep in touch!"
The wind is light but steady and I've been
experimenting with balancing the sails and helm to hold a course using just a
length of bungee rope tied to the wheel. It's been working okay and I can sail
for several hours before having to make an adjustment. As a sailing 'purist',
it's nice to be able to go below, off-watch, without listening to the whining
sound of the auto-pilot. I don't know yet how it'll cope in stronger winds but
such is the reputation of the Skeleton Coast, I'm sure I'll find out
soon enough!
Lastly, as an Englishman, you'd expect my
allegiance to be with Mike Perham's efforts to become the world's youngest
single-handed circumnavigator. I do of course wish him fair winds and calm seas
but I've had the privilege of meeting Zac Sunderland though and,
dice-willing, have made a tentative plan to meet again in California. By
that time, Zac will be an international sailing superstar and I will have almost
completed one lap of the world guided by the dice. I met Zac's Photo Journalist
Jen too and besides being absolutely lovely, she takes a pretty good picture! In
fact, I've got loads of photos to post to the blog when I get to Luderitz and a
couple of them will be Jen's; of me, Zac and Jen on Canasta. So, take a
look at www.zacsunderland.com and
while your at it, why not check out Jen's site www.jenedney.com. I wish them both every
success with their respective projects.
That's all from me for now,
More soon,
Bee
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