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The Reality of Sailing:
Since, this basically Kjell's and my first real
sailing adventure, we have the unique experience of
comparing what we expected to the reality of sailing.
We both have done quite a bit of traveling and have
been in some very uncomfortable traveling situations
so, we approached our first couple of night sailing
with respect.
Right now, we are 4 in the boat. Kjell, Me,
and two 21 year old sailors, one form Sweeden,
Morton, and the other from Norway, Simon. We
are sailing them to St. Lucia where They are picking
up another sailboat ond sailing it to Norway.
Since, we are 4 in the 29 footer it has added
another interesting condition to our first sailing
experiences. A continuous shifting of the
luggage must be done throughout the journey in order
to create room for sleeping during the night sailing.
As well, as making things accessible to us as
we need throughout the trip. Such as harnesses,
camera/video gear, and a change of clothes
just to name a few. Unfortunately, spending
time in the cabin is very difficult during the sail
as the motion of the waves hits you pretty hard in
the stomach and going into the cabin makes it worse.
Especially, when there is no circulating air at the
moment in the cabin and the temp is very hot
and hummid making the feeling in the stomach worse
when it comes time to sleep.
In Thoery: During the night sails, we
partner up (Kjell/Morton and Me/Simon) and rotate on
2 hour sailing/2 hour sleeping shifts.
The first two hours are spent in the cabin sleeping
while the last two hours are spent in the cockpit
relaxing and letting the autopilot, Judas, control
the rudder; one partner watches the autopilot for 1
hour while the other sleeps on the bench, and then
switch for the last hour.
In Reality: We spend 2 hours bouncing
around in the cabin trying to hold down our supper.
1 hour argueing with 'Judas' and getting wet.
And 1 hour lying on the outside bench adjusting your
head on the ropes and wires, getting soaked!.
We are constantly wet and salty, hungry and dizzy,
and of course tired until we finally reach our
destination. After an hour of trying to anchor,
we get ancored in the harbour, and we now can
organize the boat, blow up the dinghy and finally
get on to solid ground, only to realize that after
20 hours of sailing the solid ground moves too.
After all this we head for the immigration and
customs looking like drowned rats, smelling like
salty beggers and pretending to act like all the
other normal yachtsmen.
The Rewards: This is truely an interesting
and amazing way to travel. It takes a certain
individual to be able to embrace the hardships of
the trip as they know that when they pull into an
ilsand in the Carribean and receive the smiles and
attitude of the locals makes it all worthwhile
This is truly a very special way to see the beauty
of our world.
12.04.05
Darryl & Kjell
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NORSK
