Trust Me, I’m in Control
Mel needs to get over it. For the last four weeks, while docked and repairing the boat, she has followed the posts of friends and members of the Salty Dawg rally who arrived and left Bermuda before Jerry. She saw many photos of smiling people in low winds, lounging around in hammocks, watching dolphins, and even painting watercolors. Well, if she tried that now that Jerry is on the same journey, she would fling out of the hammock, hurtle off the boat, and paint her lap. Seas and wind are…lively. Her abs hurt, just like last time, and the cat is glowering at her. Glowering! Night watches are, once again, a bit spooky with no moon. But Mel needs to get over her disappointment. After all, nothing is broken, the newly tuned rig is holding up beautifully, winds won’t get higher than 25 knots, we’ve had no thunderstorms, the air and water are getting warmer, and the boat is handling the 6-9 ft waves just fine.
Sailing has a way of magnifying emotions, though. That’s why I think the single-handers get hooked — all the dopamine in your brain is shook around in there, and you get high highs, but low lows. And the lows can be particularly tough, because in unfavorable weather your body is telling you that you are depressed— it is hard to fall asleep sometimes, you feel like rocks are holding you down and it’s hard to get out of bed after just 3 hours of sleep for your watch, everything hurts, you have no appetite, and sometimes your mind goes blank because there is nothing better to do. You are also too hard on yourself for forgetting every time how hard it is to walk around and shower in big seas, and you irrationally blame yourself for the weather, down to guilt about relying on the wrong Predictwind model.
The above photo reveals that Mel is nevertheless enjoying her day watches. She has found that hair that’s gone unwashed for a few days makes an excellent wind direction indicator.
To ward off the threat of a low low, Mel has been trying to think positive and make Spotify playlists. This hobby can be done in short bursts, in between ondansetron doses. She also has been hitting her “Mel’s Sailing Playlist” on Spotify hard. Hoist Up the Thing by The Longest Johns is her latest addition that she listens to on repeat.
“Trust me, I’m in control!” OMG so true!
Boat stuff: 460 nm from our St. Martin waypoint. Made 198 nm in a recent 24 hour chunk. Average SOG seems to be hanging out at 8.1 kts.
We are on wind vane autopilot mode, set at 120 degrees. Wind is 19 kts apparent. Engines off, single reefed main and full jib. Have big waves, 2-3 meters still on our back quarter. Luckily, it looks like we only have that wave and an occasional beam wave — the third wave is gone. We are surfing a bit, and when the autopilot gets bored on a long wave it packs it up and heads to weather, so sometimes we jump in and correct it. Seasickness is still there but mild.
The lasagna last night was too gross to eat while seasick. We made it walk the plank. Hope the fish like Italian food.
Entertainment: Mel and Greg are watching the Knives Out sequel on Netflix. We are only halfway through. The best part of watching mysteries offshore: no spoilers!