"How is an Atlantic Crossing?"
Yacana
Sun 7 Dec 2014 15:35
" How is an Atlantic Crossing ?" is the usual question friends ask when you are back home after an Ocean Passage.
Whales and dolphins, stormy seas, loneliness and dark shadows are the usual romantic replies they expect. Is it really what's happening ? Definitely during the trip you see and feel all those things whether racing or cruising but experience shows that your concern is "mamagement". A racing team has to know the specific behavior and the traits of their boat, need to be working as a team, with each member knowing the specific responsibilities at an instance and achieve the most effective synchronization. Life during the race is focus focus focus and synchronization. Strategy is based on fast decisions, your delayed one means loss of time consequently speed. There are many "secrets" but combining the weather games with the maximum abilities of your horse and crew gives you the result.Most important for each one of us to concentrate and disassociate from everything else but the race.
The management of the "hardware" is another important task. Things are worn much more easily than in coastal sailing and the way you use your spars and accessories is very important. Then there is the management of daily life needs, provisions, water for drinking, for showering and cleaning. But isn't it normal? long distance Ocean voyaging starts and ends with the boat, this is and will be your home regardless - you race or cruise - and this is what keeps you moving toward your final destination.
But the question has not been answered .....
So back to the replyto your friends: Ocean crossing is plenty of work, steering, trimming, changing sails, sewing, sticking, splicing, mending......heeeey enough!! back to romance.
Yesterday some of us passed an hour watching a whale parallel with our course, blowing every now and then, joined later by a smaller one....so stories started ...it is her baby ...no it is a couple, they may divorce (oh nonsense)!.... at another instance the reel on the stern pushpit started unwinding.....fish fish fish.....excitement, some dream of a great recipe, the cook of the fresh catch of the day but disappointment follows when the fish is free after a strong battle. Then loneliness, it is time for serious deep meditation each member of the team creates his own world with his own life and experiences...past, present , future...a mix of feelings and imagination assisted by the numerous sunrises, sunsets and cloud shapes....
that's it folks let's cut the b.....
the answer to the QUESTION is :
"THE OCEAN IS BEAUTIFUL, UNIQUE, ALIVE AND OUR PASSION INCREASES EVERY TIME WE CROSS IT"