Day 5 Thursday
June 23, 2011
It was much calmer overnight than the previous night so I
actually got some rest. I think I got six hours, although I did wake up during
the watch change at 4am because they turned on the lights in our banjer, not
theirs, and they were noisy.
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| Pieter Bellen at the helm |
My first watch assignment today was at the helm. Not only
that, but I forgot to mention that the captain turned off the engine last
evening while I was on lookout so we were now completely under sail. No more
motor sailing for several days. Yes! That meant that I was asked to steer by
the wind gauge, not the compass. Trying to keep the ship between 55 and 60
degrees off the wind is actually quite challenging. Under 50 degrees and you’re
in danger of tacking involuntarily. Not a good thing.
Back to school again with Henrik after my stint at the helm.
We learn that we have six sails to take aloft before we make Waterford. These
are sails that would have been easier to rig in port, but circumstances didn’t
allow. That means bending them on while underway. Today we’re going to bend on
the kryss and store bramstagseils (mizzen and main topgallant staysails). This work is kind of a cross between sewing
and rock climbing. Basically, hanging onto a shroud or the mast with one hand
and threading a needle with the other. I enjoyed the company of a 17-year-old Finn named Olli whom I learned
earlier is a volunteer, not part of the permanent crew, and just joined the
ship two weeks ago. He’s an amazingly nimble fellow.
By the end of the day we’ll have 13 of the 27 sails set.
With the wind freshening this afternoon, we should be doing fairly good speed
by evening.
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| Dolphins in the North Sea! |
During the evening watch, the captain decided we had too
much sail out, so the order came down to take in the store bram sail. We were
averaging about 8 or 8 ½ knots all day so we were moving along at a pretty good
clip. I thought it odd that this was the plan since an earlier watch had just
set the same sail. Henrik asked for volunteers and the response wasn’t
enthusiastic, so I raised my hand and went to get a safety harness. Handling
the sails requires 6-8 people to do it efficiently and especially in a stiff
breeze.
Going up was OK, although the pitching of the ship was
stronger than the other times I’d been aloft.
When we reached the second platform, however, one of our number chose
not to go out on the yard. The footrope on the starboard side wasn’t ideal for a
tall person. I started having second thoughts myself. However, somebody had to
go or this operation was going to stretch out much longer. Taking that first
step onto the rope was a combination of pure adrenaline rush and absolute
terror, but I managed it. Now it was necessary to get a good handhold and sync
my movements with the heaving of the bow so I didn’t go over the yard—the foot
rope really wasn’t deep enough for someone over 6’. Oh well. One of the
Belgians, Eva, joined me on my left and the four of us were able to furl and
secure the sail. I recalled my day on the ropes course with my team from work
last summer and realized that this was a far greater challenge and obstacle to
overcome. I was satisfied to reach he deck safely and also felt a tremendous
sense of relief, even if I was 20 minutes late for lookout!
Day 6 Friday June
24, 2011
The only way I know what day it is to look at the previous
entry in this log. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter to life on the ship. It’s hard
to believe that after just 2 ½ days at sea, I have packed away my other life
into a little box for safekeeping. Little of it is relevant to daily life on
the Christian Radich. You and your watch mates work together, eat together,
sleep together, and have time off together. This happened by circumstance
obviously, not by choice, but it’s OK and is quite easily and quickly accepted.
It would be difficult to remain aloof and alone on the ship and if you tried ,
it would most likely get to be very uncomfortable.
I had my first shower this morning and it was delightful.
However, it was unlike any I’ve taken before, because the ship was rolling and
pitching constantly so cleaning with one hand was interesting. I waited until
this morning because I couldn’t locate my towel for two days. This is the third
time on the trip that I’ve not been able to find something in my belongings and
it’s frustrating. I hope that it doesn’t happen too many more times!
The wind is waning this morning. Yesterday we clipped along
at over 8 knots, but we’re down under 5 knots right now. Still headed southwest
with a WNW wind. We’ll find out after lunch when we will reach the Channel and
what the weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow.
Since yesterday evening we’ve always had at least one oil
rig in sight, sometimes more. We actually had to sail around a large cluster of
them during the night.
This morning we had Henrik give us another lesson in tending
the sails and the braces depending on the ship’s angle to the wind. We’re still
sailing close-hauled, but hopefully we’ll get wind on the beam at some point
and of course we’ll have to change everything when we approach port in
Waterford: take in all sails and square up the yards.
The rest of our morning watch was a bust as the wind
continued to drop. By the time we finished lunch and met with the captain, it
sounded more and more like we’d be going motor sailing sooner than expected,
both so that we could keep on schedule and also because the wind was shifting
back to the SW so we’d be trying to sail directly into it, a feat that’s
physically not possible. Indeed, while we were relaxing, reading, and napping,
the 12-4 watch pulled in all of the square sails.
I mentioned the food once. It’s quite remarkable what two
people can do. The first night we had whitefish with an onion baste. The next
night we had beef stroganoff; last night meatballs, and tonight pork chops. The
bread is all fresh and wonderful and the side dishes excellent. Fresh fruit,
coffee, and tea 24/7, and good desserts. This afternoon we had hot chocolate
and brownies.
By the time the evening watch began, the wind had freshened,
but we were done sailing because the 4-8 watch had taken in all the square
sails as I said. We were back under power and the boat was starting to behave
like a bucking horse or a carnival ride again, depending on the metaphor you
prefer.
I had the helm at 2100 hours and although it wasn’t hard to
keep the ship on course, the pressure on the rudder was intense and after an
hour your arms really start to feel some strain. It’s an amazing feeling of awe
and admiration, though, to be piloting such an elegant vessel through such an
elemental process.
While I was gone the rest of the watch were getting a lesson
in rope splicing, something I’d never tried. I was able to catch up to them
when I returned and have yet another skill to take home with me. All the while
we worked the ropes we were passing oil rigs in the night. I counted 17 visible
between the C. Radich and the eastern horizon.
