We are sailing
NORDLYS
David and Annette Ridout
Sun 6 May 2007 20:40
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6th Night at Sea
19:24S 109:29E
0300hrs, Monday 7th May
2007
As I write this Annette is asleep, a waning moon is
overhead casting an eerie white glow over the scene and all is well on the good
ship Nordlys. The scene is in fact one of typical trade wind
sailing. Genoa boomed out to port, staysail in the slot and main tied down
hard to starboard. Nordlys is hurling herself happily along with some 15
to 18 knots of wind behind her. A ship has just passed about five miles
off to starboard which is a good thing as it reminds us that a good watch does
have to be kept and that we are not the only creatures crossing this watery
desert. The last word is very much correct alas. Now we are in the
tropics there are few birds and apparently no fish, at least none who fancy our
lure!
Yesterday was not all bliss. The wind was too
light for down wind sailing most of the time and with sails slating it was a
pleasant relief to 'charge the batteries' and have engine propulsion for a few
hours. Just as we could no longer use the excuse of the batteries to keep
the engine on the wind filled in and off we went. At least the current
which has been stubbornly against us seems to have eased off and we are now
crossing the worlds surface at an average of nearly seven knots. A
pleasant change after the light winds and counter current of the last few days
reduced this figure to about 4 to 5.
One of the best things about this passage for us is
to find that even after a year off we have fitted very quickly to life afloat
and underway. Ropes come easily to hand, we walk around the ship at night
without needing lights, handholds are still filled away in our brains despite a
year of good Australian wine. I am sure people are still killing themselves
in Iraq and the London Underground is full of commuters but for us this all
seems a million miles away and we are happy to be escapists for a while.
Thus I sign off with Christmas Island 578 miles in front of us and
Fremantle and its many memories 880 behind us.
David
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