Still Slogging It Out
Whoever said, “It’s about the journey, not the destination” was definitely not a cruiser. My original thought for that sentence was, “Whoever said it’s about the journey, not the destination should be punched in the head”. That sounds a little violent, although, I still think it’s true.
Ah, we’re still at it. The last 3 days have been 20 knot winds, gusting at times to 28, 10-12ft seas and periods of intermittent squalls (higher winds from various directions, rain and elevated seas). That’s made for a lot of rolling port to starboard and howling wind sound effects. The swell takes a toll on the boat while the sound of the wind takes more of a mental toll on me, especially at night when we have no moonlight (no visibility) for 13 hours. Perhaps, as a result of the conditions, six out of the eight boats in our flotilla have had problems. In second place, for most challenging situation right now, is the boat The Dorothy Marie. They have been hand steering for 3 days and have at least another two days of it because their auto-pilot couldn’t handle the sea conditions and just quit. Bold Spirit lost use of their engine alternator. Mischief had to hang upside down over the stern in rolling seas to replace a line on his wind vane and our staysail furler is no longer functioning so we can’t use that sail. BPD is cutter rigged which means we still have a head sail and main sail. So it’s not a big deal except that we like the little staysail for high winds and stabilizing the roll. Fixing it would require going up the mast and there’s no way Jim is doing that out here.
Patrick suggested that my posts lately tend to sound negative. Patrick is now swimming the rest of the way to Fiji. We wish him well. Just kidding. He is right but that’s the nature of cruising. Passages are a means to an end for most yachties. We all do them to get to postcard settings where we frolick in the warm waters and keep cool with cold drinks in the company of friends. Neither Jim nor I have ever heard someone say, “Boy, I’m really looking forward to getting offshore again on passage”.
At 2:00 pm on Thursday, we have a little over 200 miles to Fiji with no weather concerns ahead. We’ll scoot inside the reef and travel another 25 miles to our check-in destination. We should be anchor down around noon on Saturday. We’re looking forward to it.
May 21st, 2009 at 5:44 am
That person would be Ursula K. LeGuin
The exact quote is: “It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” See my travel blog post:
http://panini7.blogspot.com/2009/02/it-is-journey-that-matters.html
May 21st, 2009 at 6:39 am
Glad everything is fine with you guys…..Sounds like no more issues. Fiji is cheap so you should like that.
May 21st, 2009 at 7:11 am
Hi Tiffany:
Don’t know Patrick, but you can tell him I appreciate your recent emails. Something beautiful about the truth.
Would that be the difference between a cruiser and a sailor? The cruiser wants the next port, and the sailor wants the next passage?
Thinking of you guys.
Scott
May 21st, 2009 at 7:13 am
Anvhor down sounds like a wonderful term. I am in st augustine fla with my sister. We have had rain 24″ all week and high seas and surf. No sun at all. Flooding conditions but I at least have the ground, fooded as it may be right now, below my toes which is more than u have. I WILL NOT complain.
Enjoy your sail in to Figi. Be safe.
Della
May 21st, 2009 at 8:00 am
Sounds like some interesting “learning experiences” out there. But I would still trade that for sitting here trying to figure out how to earn a living in this economy. Hang in there and soon you will be having a cold beer in a beautiful island cove. Thanks for the realistic updates and stories.
Bill
May 21st, 2009 at 8:35 am
I have really enjoyed your postings. The yacht salesmen don’t tell you all of this do they? This is an experience that most people on earth will never have. Think of the stories you will be able to tell! It is a relief that you are within 200 miles of Fiji, and chances are high you will have smooth sailing for the rest of the passage. All the best, John
May 21st, 2009 at 8:46 am
lol - I hope you gave Patrick a left vest and a bottle of something as you shoved him off the deck
Best wishes for a safe end to the journey.
May 21st, 2009 at 9:24 am
Sounds like smoother sailing, albeit all the problems. I’m sure once you reach your destination all the problems will be forgotten, at least temporarily. Look forward to the next posting.
-Perry
May 21st, 2009 at 10:16 am
Hang in there BFB! We miss you and pulling for you guys!
May 21st, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Whining??? Not you. Sarcasm, wit, humor, anything but whining. Save that for the cheese. And just think, in a few short albeit bumpy nights, you’ll be in that beautiful anchorage sipping cool ones and fondly reminiscing about the exciting trip you just made. And you will be so very proud of yourselves for what you have accomplished. Why is it that the bumps are so much more noticeable at night?
So stop whining!
Elise
May 21st, 2009 at 1:41 pm
The grass is always greener on the other side! My business has been tanking in this economy, had to lay off friends who have worked for me for a very long time. Revenues are down 80% and the forecast looks worse. I have son in first grade and a mortgage on a house which has declined in value by 50%… Swimming to Fiji the rest of the way doesn’t sound so bad
May 21st, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Hi all. We enjoy keeping track of you. With all the challenges you experience, it still sounds fun, given I drive to work every day! It may be time for a bigger boat. Stay safe!
May 22nd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Thanks for keeping us up to date with what’s going on. It’s gives me hope that someday you’ll be back in the US and we can have a visit with the girls’ aunt & uncle! Can’t wait for that day
(or we may just have to fly to find you in the Southern Hemisphere)
May 22nd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
By the time I write this you should be anchor down and sipping one or more of those cool ones you mentioned. Indeed your experiences have been challenging and scary at times, but they have made you better sailors. You all can be very proud of your accomplishments. Enjoy Fiji and keep the blogs coming.
Len
May 23rd, 2009 at 9:32 pm
Hopefully by now you are celebrating your arrival in Fiji with a few cold ones. Has Patrick arrived yet?
May 24th, 2009 at 1:36 am
oh please…if we were always at our destination what fun would life be. perhaps beating your head against the bow a few times will give you some new found perspective.
There’s some good surf there…(you sailing ninnies)
Most of us on this rock really don’t appreciate what we got right in front of us.