I almost forget what it looks like outside. Since yesterday afternoon we have been crazy about the flat pancake. Away from the brutal sun and heat. We're on the ocean again!
The wind growls through the stays and along the sails. The wind vane makes a familiar thumping sound to let you know that it is in the right position. The propeller shaft rumbles. The water roars around the boat with a lot of noise. Sometimes a thump and then the splash. The ocean is blue and when the sun disappears behind a beautiful white cloud, the blue turns gray for a moment. It is deep blue and the wave crests sometimes turn very light when the sun shines through. White heads, sometimes they turn over a bit. There is a strong swell where we sometimes skim over the crests and sometimes sink deep into the valleys. Then we climb again and turn towards the wind on a peak. The mast shakes for a moment and a sail flaps and then we speed up again on our way to the next top. There is a 'rough sea' on the swell, the waves jumping, pushing, splashing and jumping, it's a delight. It blows salt water but it is fun on the ocean.
This morning with an increasingly salty morning coffee. 'Beautiful, but the first and the last time' 'what do you mean' 'well, a long ocean trip' 'yes it is tough, but a crossing to help someone is nice' 'yes, okay two weeks is possible' ' Well three is also possible' 'a nice half day of sailing and then dropping anchor, beer, wine and good food' 'so you can choose your own weather and sea' 'exactly'.
Regards,
Ton and Mark
