12:00 noon
Winds kicked up through the night 25-35 knots and 12-15 foot seas. I felt like shit all night – still do. We hit the front 7:30 or so. Dark skies, building winds and rain. The winds kicked to 35 knots or so; gusts to 45 knots.
20 Knots of wind has a low easy howl as is runs through the rigging.
30 knots has a higher pitched more constant howl.
40 is a more of a scream and
50 knots…
Had some company last night – a couple of Brown Boobies. A pleasure to see birds out this far.
2:55 p.m.
I forgot how incredibly uncomfortable this passage can be – or is. Had push come to shove, and Josa was really considering getting on a plane to Bermuda, I would have had to do everything I could to stop her. This is not for everyone. I know in my heart why I am out here but can not recall right now. Comfort is fleeting. You go from being hot and sweaty or cold and clammy. Comfort is getting over your seasickness just in time to get tossed through the companionway. It’s falling fast asleep in your bunk with the lee cloth drawn tight only to be awakened moments later for watch on a pitch-dark night. Dry does not exist.
You are in a washing machine that doesn’t shut off till the 6-7 day cycle is complete. So why do it? The challenge, both mental and physical; it’s life affirming and puts things in perspective. It’s brought to Mother Nature’s doorstep. We are guests in the ocean. Humble guests. So few activities are so direct as blue water sailing. We’re in a 36-foot boat sailing through the North Atlantic. Most boats out here are 40 feet or more. I’ve challenged myself before and have been challenged. 4 summits in 6 days through the White Mountains in February. Cycling to the Cape and Vermont. But this is different.
I guess I felt I had to do this again because of my PD. My PD? Interesting. I guess it really belongs to Parkinson, but I have it now. I’ll never be in better shape so I figure get while the getting is good!
I choked down a burger at noon – my seasickness is waning. I got tossed through the companion way as the boat lurched down the side of a wave. I’ll be black and blue. Life is good – Ha!
If you let yourself think “What if”, you would drive yourself crazy with fear. I won’t taunt fate and list the “what ifs” that have crossed my mind here. I think them and let them go. This is beautiful and daunting, cold and intimate.
Winds have subsided – 15 knots; seas 5-7 ft. Last night at the helm I would look up to see the white caps. You often wonder how is this wave not going to break on me. Occasionally they do – last night one jumped into the cockpit. A wall of water just crashing down upon you – soaked me.
Almost “Herb Thirty”. The winds have not clocked around to the NW as he had predicted for noon. We’re hoping the gale forecast for Saturday does not materialize. Time to check in.
5:00 pm
Forecast sucks! We need to slow down—way down—to avoid the gale. Looks like we won’t cross the Gulf Stream till late Sunday and may not get back to CT until late Tues. or Wed.
Have not taken my CoQ10 today. Choking 12 horse pills down when seasick sucks! But hey, a clinical study found that taking 12,000mg of CoQ10 daily can result in a 40% slow down in progression of PD so, choke them down I will.