2nd day at sea
NORDLYS
David and Annette Ridout
Thu 3 May 2007 06:57
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2nd Day at Sea
27:00N 113:11E
1200hrs 2nd May 2007
All well on board. The sky is blue, the seas
are turquoise but there is no wind and the engine is on. Leaving Fremantle
was an effort but it was really a case of stay a week plus or go. An
endless series of fronts were due with their accompanying WNW winds.
Anyway 24 hours of hard on the wind and just managing to lay the required
courses to keep off the coast and we were rewarded with an easing and backing
wind. This we carried until this morning. Last night was
magic. Full moon, few clouds and 8 to 12 knots on the beam giving us
constant sailing. This resulted in 162nm achieved the first day and 158
the second. Now however the wind has gone and is not really likely to
appear for two days. All morning we kept the sails up and moved along at
3, 4 or occasionally 5 knots. By lunch time the huge swells and a final
demise of the wind made the engine inevitable.
Leaving Fremantle reminded me yet again of Balzac's
well known saying 'every time I say goodbye I die a little'. We were
obviously longing to get going but were very conscious that we were leaving
behind a collection of kind and interesting people who had made our stay
in Western Australia a memorable one. We hope we see many of you again but
being realistic the number we do will be many less than the number of people who
helped to give us such an interesting and enjoyable time. Make sure you
keep in touch and remember there will always be a welcome in
Lymington.
Yesterday was one of contrasts. >From hard
uncomfortable sailing to the very essence of movement under canvas. From
our last sighting of mutton birds and albatrosses to our first flying
fish. Plus we had a pleasant half hour with dolphins playing round the
bows. It was also a day when we heard some dreadful news on the evening
radio schedule with friends in Fremantle. Cowrie Dancer is a Swan 57 built
the same month as Nordlys, April 1980. Owned since 1985 by an American we
first met her in Tonga three years ago when he, his wife and their young teenage
son were nearing the end of a circumnavigation from Perth their home.
Cowrie Dancer was out on the hard next to us for many months. Dale was
preparing her for his last great voyage before selling her. The plan was
to go from Fremantle round the bottom calling in at such as Tasmania, Chile, the
Horn, Antarctica, South Georgia and Cape Town. He was going to do this
with friends as his wife and son stayed ashore. All was achieved and she
was on her last leg from Cape Town to Fremantle when we understand the mast came
down, a crew man was lost overboard and the boat is in such a state that she
will probably be scuttled when the rescue crew from Cape Town arrive.
As I write we know no more. I have to say we both felt sick when this
information was relayed to us.
So with the good ship Nordlys some 300 plus
miles nearer her destination, the mate asleep and all well I will sign
off.
David
1600hrs 2nd May
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