Here I am at 171 degrees East and 35 degrees North in the North Pacific
Ocean 700 miles NorthWest of Midway Island. Underneath the waves is the
most spectacular landscape. Seamountains rise up from the seabed and
reach heights of nearly 6000 meters, if it was possible to see all this
from seabed level it has to be one of the amazing sights on earth.
However is lies underneath a beautiful seascape. We are surrounded by
enormous swells. They pick us up to magnificent heights and than gently
lower us into their valleys. Amazing! And the surfers in Hawaii must be
looking forward to their arrival on their beaches.
This part of the world is savage. Depressions and highs fight over their
place on the map and stir up the waves as they battle each other. We
have been spared the worst weather so far and because of the fact that
we are merely delivering the boat and not racing we will not go too far
North to encounter the wilder seas and gale force winds. Our strategy is
to keep the boat in one piece, save our sails from stretching too much,
be conservative with our new rig and use the time to teach and train as
much as possible. This strategy has so far resulted in a new rip in our
main, 30 knots apparent in our brand new staysail, drivers being far
from concentrated and manage to get the boat into the weirdest
situations. And now we are heading for a seamount that comes up to just
15 meters below the seasurface. I cannot begin to imagine the mayhem
that we could encounter there wave-wise...
Of all the delivery trips in the world this must be the one which is
most challenging. Too many people on board to keep it simple, adverse
weather systems, failing generator, watermaker and now also a rope
around the prop, breaking mainsail and another 3000 miles to go!!!
Next time I'll do another Hamble to Holland run. I'd rather be racing I
guess.
And now get your act together and serve some tea (yes I am boat Mutti
today).
