Getting Back to Nature, Ten Feet Above the Earth

With modern technology it is now possible to spend most of your time inside the boat, monitoring other ships, wind, and all systems on an iPad. You can even give the helm a tweak from the toilet if you want. However, Mel likes to spend a lot of her watch at the helm instead.

Why does she like the helm? On a Leopard 48 it is high up there, maybe 10 feet above the ocean, and it provides a 360 degree view of exotic, and sometimes phosphorescent, wildlife. It is pretty wild to rocket over the ocean at a blistering 9 mph, hearing the waves and wind roll all around you, and yet have your butt cushioned by reticulated foam. Another reason Mel likes being at the helm is that it allows her to immerse herself in nature, but not too much. After all, after being stuck in a windowless clinic for 12 hours a day for several years, Mel is no longer all that familiar with nature. She doesn’t trust it. You never know where it’s been. I mean, the offshore ocean carries a lethal condition called drowning if you get too close. So Mel likes her helm. The helm provides social distance from the ocean.

The experience at the helm was a pleasant one for most of today. Mel was even able to capture a beautiful sunset and put a video on her Facebook page. But then the ocean took a turn for the worse, and Jerry is now being…buffeted. A lot. “Buffet” is such a great word! The mood of the crew has plummeted with this decline in the comfort of their ride, especially since the steady, dependable trade winds have settled in at a consistent 17 knots. Why are the waves not cooperating?? Why??? Greg blames Anguilla, muttering something about wave interactions. Mel doesn’t want to be too harsh on Anguilla. It sits atop Saint Martin like a little beret! It’s too cute to be mad at!

Boat stuff: We are proceeding in the 17 knots of true wind at 80 degrees apparent on a single-reefed main and 3 turns in the jib in an effort to slow us down. Even then, Jerry is jerked, slapped, pushed, or pulled in a different direction seemingly every 3 seconds. No idea how fast we are going as SOG ranges from 6 to 10 knots as we surf on the following sea component. Less than 50 nm to the Anguilla cut!

Dinner: Spaghetti with turkey sausage. The seas turned nasty as Mel was boiling the water. After cooking for a whole 15 minutes in the one-handed, wide-based squat posture sailors know so well, Mel’s core demanded a lie-down.

Entertainment: Swearing