Abilities

18 July 2013

Update by Jimbo:
“Hope this log posting finds you healthy & happy. We are soon approaching the thirtieth day at sea! Three of us (David, Ben and Jimbo) are now over 60 days. The trainees don’t work half as hard as the crew. We are impressed and sometimes in awe of the crew’s stamina, strength and abilities.
All is okay with us, so now it may be time for a reality check. Deep sea sailing on a schooner such as the ‘Oosterschelde’ is not as ‘hardcore’ as deep sea sailing on a small boat. Neither is it a luxury cruise nor an idyllic sail. It is a sailing adventure! It’s a learning experience that tests our abilities to sail and to cope with small and not so small adversities and with each other’s personalities when under stress. With our teambuilding skills we are getting through it with flying colors!
So here is the reality check.  For some as yet unexplained reason or reasons, sails have been torn or damaged. Sometimes it appeared that the sails were improperly repaired and the sailmaker maybe at fault. Other times it appeared as if the sail wasn’t strong enough to hold up to the very sudden and strong winds from the frequent squalls we encountered.
The Southern Indian Ocean is not a heavy travelled sea and wind and weather forecasts are not as reliable as other seas and conditions can change unexpectedly and suddenly. Judgment calls have to be made by the sailors and sometimes no matter what you do, a sail tears. It’s all part of the adventure! When you see the crew react appropriately and competently over and over, you feel safe even if it seems rough at the moment. The wind force never exceeded force 8 Bft in sudden gusts that disappeared as quickly as they came. “Who knows from where the wind cometh or goeth?” And then there’s the endless pitching and rolling. No matter how calm the seas are, the swell rolls us about. We have sea legs but the glasses and dishes don’t. And yet, no worries mates! It’s all good. It’s all part of the sailing adventure we came for and we all feel the ship is safe and seaworthy. We’ve all read the books about sailing conditions in the past and know the old-timers had it way rougher than anything we are experiencing. This is nothing compared to the past. We can even motor through the doldrums.
Sometimes it is a little tiresome to get up for your next watch, but then… Ah! But then, you get up on deck and look out upon the sea and sky; both dramatically beautiful no matter what the conditions are. A joyful exhilaration sweeps over you. No matter rain or shine, rough or calm, it’s awesomely beautiful out here in the deep blue sea. 
We are sailors, we are mesmerized by nature’s seas; we are getting salt in our veins; we are living the life!
“The sea, she is beautiful.”
“That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!”
Love to all.
(Next leg for me: Pacific Ocean: Auckland to Ushuaia.)”