First Signs Of Cabin Fever Sets In

Noon Position:  41:50S 059:12W

Noon to Noon Run:  182 miles

Date:  27 March 2012

It is normally about Day 5 on an ocean passage that Cabin Fever sets in, or so it seems on Mina2, and this passage is no exception. The symptoms of Cabin Fever can range from nothing much more than slightly odd behaviour (difficult to gauge in Tom & Lawrence’s case, as they behave oddly at the best of times), to certifiable lunacy. We haven’t  the full spectrum on board yet, but we’re moving in that direction.

I thought it started yesterday when Tom started mumbling to himself in Cambodian. Anyway, false alarm, as it transpired he was listening to his Spanish language tape on his iPod. I don’t know whether the fact I thought he was talking in Cambodian says so much about Tom’s inability to speak Spanish as to my inability to understand it.

But Lawrence has definitely been losing it a bit. Tom had been having a challenging time making scrambled eggs for breakfast. As we rocked and rolled, one of the eggs awaiting cracking flipped over the rim around the work surface in the galley and plopped on the floor. Just as Tom had finished clearing up the mess, a second egg self-launched on to the floor. Tom was a bit upset judging by the vile language he was using. Trying to cheer Tom up, Lawrence said “Don’t worry Tom, we’ve got loads more eggs at home. The hens are laying really well at the moment” And just now as we were looking at some Dusky Dolphins that had come to play with our bow wave, Lawrence asked “What do dolphins eat? Are they vegetarian?”

Meanwhile, Andrew remains more sane and more grown-up than the rest of us put together. And thank God for that. Last night, I was typing something on the computer when a more than usually violent lurch hurled my very small whisky and soda over the keyboard. Instant malfunction. Thank goodness I’m carrying a spare computer otherwise you wouldn’t be getting this blog, and we wouldn’t be getting any more weather forecasts. Anyway, Andrew who luckily knows everything and can fix anything, whipped the dysfunctional computer away from me and has stripped it down to its individual silicon chips. He will be reconstructing the computer later, doubtlessly adding a few enhancements whilst he’s at it. Splendid fellow.

Meanwhile, the boat continues to sail herself to the sunshine with great speed. Just to prove yesterday wasn’t a flash in the pan, our noon to noon mileage today was yet another very satisfying 184 miles. But as I type this with the increasingly warm sun getting lower in the early evening sky, the wind is now moderating as forecast. We will not be having any more high mileage days I’m afraid. Now two thirds distance, with 500 miles still to go, the frustrating part of the passage starts here.