November 17th (Liam’s 12 Birthday!!!)

Whaaaaaaat??? Ok so two night in a row now with minimal boat motion, just a nice easy pace close reaching at 6.5 knots average…the boat is soooo balanced and soooo comfortable and for the first time on either passage I really slept deep in my 2 hours off in between shifts. Crazy dreams and everything. Dang what a difference.

Lovely sailing again today – so nice it’s almost a shame it’s the last day. Almost. Hahha. But not quite because we are all DISGUSTING. So sticky, smelly, hot, humid, and all around gross. We have 950L of tankage for water and I am (more than) a bit controlling and have been watching our water consumption carefully. I mean there are 8 of us and I really didn’t want to roll in to St. Martin with empty tanks and have to fill up immediately when we really will want (and need) to decompress. But (and keep this a secret b/c I don’t know how many of the crew actual know this unless they are reading the log book) we still have half of our water and we are going to arrive early tomorrow morning LOL. So I think today we can all have a quick and responsible (finger wag) shower tonight but I haven’t fully decided yet so haven’t made any announcements. Serious props to the rest of the crew, especially Andrew, Bill and Heidi who don’t live with me, for dealing with my obsessive water-watching.

 Greg is currently trying to get the seized watermaker pump working – this was something we couldn’t test while on the Chesapeake without wrecking the membrane because there was so much growth in the water there. Here it would be perfect – deep and clean – but the watermaker hasn’t been used in a long time and the parts work better when they are used frequently. Of course in true Greg style, the second he’s not working, he finds some work to do. So rather than chilling out on our last day of sailing – in lovely weather, he’s in the hot engine room cranking on stuff. Well good for him. I’m in the cockpit writing and enjoying a peaceful moment.

On that note, what better time to ask some reflective questions of the crew that are not currently in the engine room?

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Grace:

 Overall impressions of the passage experience?

I think it’s crazy. I think it’s crazy we are doing this and we have made it so far. And this boat has been moving for a week non-stop. I think it’s also crazy because we made it past lightening storms without getting hit. And there is a sea bird that just flew by right now. I think it’s kind of awesome because we are going to meet so much people and we are going to see beaches!

Key differences between passage 1 and 2?

Yes. We went really faster when we went to Bermuda and now we are going slower. There were more waves on the way to Bermuda and there are less waves now.

Best moment? 

That we got to go swimming. And that we made it.

Worst moment?

When it was so rocky and I wanted to be still for one moment (on the way to Bermuda).

What is the first thing you are going to do when we get there?  

Get my bathing suit on and hop off the boat! That’s true. Do you want a nut? (offers me a pistachio, it was one she couldn’t open…generous kid).

Heidi (Greg’s sister in law, Andrew’s wife):

Overall impressions of the passage experience? 

It was an amazing opportunity to sail together with family. We have a shared passion for assailing and it was great to share that with each other. Especially the first passage on this boat – to share that with family.

Key differences between passage 1 and 2?

Temperature is a lot warmer on this second one – which is good. The second one had us settling into routine a bit more and maybe having more confidence having experienced some significant weather on our first passage. I absolutely loved being on the sunrise shift with Andrew – seeing those awesome sunrises with him out on the ocean is one of my favour things.

We have sailed almost the entire passage this time which is amazing.

Best moment?

I have two best moments. So the first moment was the first night of our second passage and it was going through squall after squall with Andrew and we had to adapt really quickly and work as a team and it was fun and really exciting. And then the second best moment was the first sunrise Andrew and I got to experience together on our moment approaching Bermuda after a rough couple of days at sea. You could see this whole cloud system above Bermuda and it seemed like we were entering a different world. There was a sense of calm knowing we were going to make it and out run the storm and also just how beautiful it was to be out there at sea.

Worst moment?

When there was lightening right beside the boat multiple times and thunder right above us and a storm that lasted several hours. It was the worst moment because I felt very much out of control – it was up to mother nature weather or not we got hit by lightening.

What is the first thing you are going to do when we get there?

I think I’m going to jump in and go for a swim with the kids and the adults.

Andrew (Greg’s brother):  

Overall impressions of the passage experience?

It’s an adventure. That’s about it. Good times. What’s an adventure without challenge If it was easy it wouldn’t be an adventure. Learning experience I guess. (insert name) said that “adventure” is the result of a lack of planning…I would say we had some adventure but take that as you will and by the way it’s super bad mojo to be doing this before we are actually there.  

Key differences between passage 1 and 2?

The weather. Wind direction and weather were much more favourable. I think we had a healthier respect for what might happen. We had more miles under our belt and had a better sense of what to do and what we wanted to avoid. We wanted to keep to our Predict Wind route and for the most part we hit that route pretty good. Getting where you wanted to be when you wanted to be seemed a bit more challenging with the first one.

Best moment?

I think when we were anchored in Bermuda and decompressing a bit with a few drinks. We didn’t get to shore that night but it was kinda fun just to hang out. We got there in one piece and got to watch the harbour – even though it was kinda tense – we were there. That sail into Bermuda was good to – we knew we were going to make it that was great. The culminating of the beatering we did every day to get to that kicked our butts for a day and a half and we could say yes, we know where the storm is and we can avoid it.

Worst moment?

I had a few. I don’t know which one. Jibbing the boat was pretty low. I had a few spots where I screwed things up and those were pretty low. Getting burned out here and there. I don’t know, a couple times when we felt a little too crowded. I can do it for a bit and I’m fine and then I needed to not do it for a bit. Like when I was so hot and just needed to not be hot.

What is the first thing you are going to do when we get there?

Crack a beer. (I remind him we only have 3 beers and Heidi says that since he put it in his response he gets claim on one). I’m going to ask you some questions – gonna get all Geraldo on you. (I say bring it).

Aden:

Overall impressions of the passage experience?

Well I had been getting very seasick – I threw up twice. I haven’t been happy over the passages very much. I haven’t been eating. It’s been different. It feels weird not seeing land. When ever we are moving I can feel it in my stomach – even if I feel ok, I can still feel it in my stomach. I would go to the back of the cockpit and get breeze on my face. (I think she spent more time outside than any one of us). Even when I feel fine I still feel it.

Key differences between passage 1 and 2?

We got more rain on the way to Bermuda and this passage we’ve had nicer weather. I feel better about that – I’m not getting sea sick as much on the way to St. Martin.

Best moment?

My best moment is today – it’s Liam birthday, it’s calmer weather. I feel fine but I can still feel it like I said. Right now, I am eating pistachios and drinking tea.

Worst moment?

Throwing up.

Bill (Greg’s Dad):

Overall impressions of the passage experience?

Oh pretty good. I know what it’s like and it probably went the way I thought it would. Difficult at times and other times quite rewarding you know. There are highs and lows as the weather ebbs and tides. You gotta expect – nothing you want to accomplish comes easy.

Key differences between passage 1 and 2?

Got to know the boat better and we were able to sail it more to her potential. I think we were a little bit timid on the first passage and we were less used to the furling.

Best moment?

I don’t think there is a best moment – it’s all great, I really love sailing. At times it’s tougher but you know it’s not..

Worst moment?  

No worst moment – it was kinda frightening with the squall but it was good to get to know what the boat would do. But I wasn’t frightened. I think any boat can cross an ocean – its just how it’s managed and how the crew can manage. But it definitely better in a bigger boat. Bigger boats have more cost and complicated parts. I think the chart plotter with AIS is a must – I’ve never had that before on other passages.

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The other crew members were unavailable for comment at the time ;)

So close. We are heading into the last night shift which will end up being a long day as I think once Greg and I finish our 2-4am shift we’ll stay up to bring the boat in.

We aren’t expecting to have instant-relaxation…not for a week or so yet. But it will be nice to have less motion and some land under our feet. And some food that wasn’t prepared by me. And better conditions to get some boat jobs done. And maybe clean our disgusting bodies. And maybe get some laundry done. And check in with life at home. And and and…

So close.

Much love,

M