Race 6 - Day 5
Crew Diary - Hobart to Whitsundays, Australia
07 January
Hello Friends, families and followers of Derry~Londonderry~Doire
One of my favourite books is the Scottish Classic – Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon. It is set in Aberdeenshire and talks of the Red Clay of the Mearns, and the Land and countryside in that area. “Nothing Endures....nothing but the land we pass across, tossing and turning at the hands of the crofter folk”.
This quotation struck me today, as it is so true that the land is constant – the hill or mountain is always there. The fields take generations to change, and the roads and paths evolve slowly over time, but the change is hardly discernible.
In sharp contrast. Life at sea is ever changing. The same piece if
water, whether sea, ocean or straight, can present itself in a variety of
ways. On this Leg we have crossed the Bass Straight 3 times. Each
occasion vastly different from the last, with the wind, sea and boat course and direction equally different.
One of the key documents we have on board is the Ships Log. Every day, every hour, a record is taken of our position, course, the sea state, wind direction, cloud cover, weather conditions, sea temperature, speed, distance covered, our Sail Plan and other useful info.
This info is used not only to record the past and present, or to tell the
story of the crossing, but to use this info to determine changes that are occurring and how this might influence how we sail the boat.
The numbers and terminology, and the tools we use for the numbers to Race the boat at its optimum have become part of our daily vocabulary – VMG – or Velocity Made Good, SOG – Speed over the Ground, APA – Apparent Wind Angle.... all have become part of our normal conversation, but also demonstrate the various factors that effect the ever changing conditions and Sail Plan. The numbers for each of these variables are always changing.
In addition to the Sailing Log, also we also record some housekeeping info such as the Fridge and Freezer Temp, Bilge, Steering, Safety, Engine and Generator Checks, Watch handover and occasionally comments about lunch, Dinner or wildlife.
Numbers at sea are used far more frequently and an many different ways from numbers on land, and these Log numbers tell the story of how that Hour, Day, Stretch of water was at the time you encountered it.
Other number you could argue are equally important on an ocean crossing: No of dolphins, whales, Sharks, Seals, turtles, Albatross etc...No of Sunrises and Sunsets, no of days at sea and miles travelled.
My experience so far has been all encompassing – Pushing my boundaries of strength, stamina, endurance and ticking boxes such as the Sydney Hobart and Southern Ocean. This Leg has delivered adventures, we have experienced ups and downs, laughter and tears, joy, achievement, disappointment and a few bumps and bruises along the way.
It is not over yet, but as the weather has gone from 4 seasons in one day, soaked through at 45 degrees to Blue Water Sailing today in shorts and t-shirts, our expectations are high for a good finish into Airlie Beach.
It is not quite slow enough for Murat to get out the Fishing Rod yet, and hopefully that will not be required before the end of the Race!
Happy Birthday to Brother Seanny on the 11th.
Love and Best wishes to all… be in touch soon!
From somewhere off the East coast of Oz
Eileen O'Farrell