The Second Night: November 20-21, 2023
With relatively strong winds and waves (TWS 20, AWS 13), we sailed into the night. Anna was well-prepared and took the helm at midnight. Shortly after, she saw a “squall” approaching on the radar.
The evening before, Peter had briefed us on how to handle a squall in an emergency, recognize it in time, prepare, and act accordingly. This topic was also covered in one of the ARC seminars, which I insisted we all attend. It’s crucial to repeat and reinforce these procedures, as we did that evening with the squall briefing.
Anna was instructed to check the radar every 30 minutes for squalls. Suddenly, she saw a large field heading directly towards us. She was instructed to wake Peter, who would make the necessary preparations with the crew. She did this exemplary. When Peter arrived at the helm, it turned out to be a huge tanker traveling on the same course as us. A false alarm, but Anna did everything right!
Shortly after, the AIS briefly failed, requiring Anna to wake our captain again. One doesn’t want to sail “blind” across the sea. It can be unsettling not knowing what’s happening around you at night. AIS and radar provide a lot of security and a sense of control at sea. Peter quickly identified the problem, restarted the system, and restored our sense of security. Phew…
Peter’s rest was disturbed once more when Anna saw a flash in the sky. She feared being struck by lightning. However, it quickly became clear that it wasn’t a storm but a sign of severe fatigue. Anna needed to get to bed immediately, and I took over at the helm.
After two hours of calm sailing, the wind suddenly died, causing the Wingaker to flap uselessly. I had to wake Peter and Nicolas so they could lower the Wingaker. This night-time maneuver was a bit adventurous but manageable with the low wind. Well-lit, they quickly stowed the sail. Just after, the wind picked up again, so we decided to stick with the Wingaker. Lesson learned: wait longer before taking such actions.
Barely had I calmed down and everyone was back in bed when the boat began to spin wildly. Despite my efforts to steer, it kept spinning. My pulse was racing. I didn’t have the calm or the time to go to the cabins and wake Peter, so I called out… and was heard. Shortly after, Nicolas and Peter were beside me, stabilizing the boat. The wind had shifted again, confusing our course.
Good thing they were already awake because it was finally necessary to stow the Wingaker. The wind was so weak that we had no choice but to start the engine.
After this middle-of-the-night action, we were all exhausted, especially my son Nicolas and Peter, so I volunteered to extend my night shift until 8 AM. I felt a bit guilty and hoped to make up for the lost sleep for everyone. Sleep is important.
A Bird Visitor and Technical Problems: An Eventful Day on the Ocean
In the early hours, I wasn’t alone. A small bird joined me at the helm. Just as I was about to take a photo, it flew away, and I wondered if I had imagined it. A small bird so far from the coast is quite unusual.
At 8 AM, Nicolas relieved me, and I managed to sleep for another 2-3 hours. I was so tired that the engine noise didn’t bother me, despite being very sensitive to it.
When I got up, Peter and Nicolas had just set the Code 0 and the first reef on the mainsail. We were sailing briskly at about 7 knots in quite high waves. We didn’t see the sun all day, as it looked like rain, though it never actually rained.
At breakfast, I told everyone about my bird encounter, and soon after, the bird returned to our boat seeking shelter. It tried to protect itself from the strong wind at the swim platform. We offered it water and some seeds, which it ignored. Instead, it found our fruit nets and took shelter near the bananas, pecking at a ripe one. How do birds know exotic fruits like bananas are edible and nutritious? Fascinating. We placed a small dish of water nearby, which it quickly figured out how to use.
Anna and Nicolas took care of our new little pet, much like they did at home when Nicolas had birds.
In the afternoon, the wind picked up, making the ride quite rough. We swapped the Code 0 for the jib, making it more comfortable for everyone.
Joys and Sorrows of Starlink & Co.
To share the latest news with family and friends, Peter activated our Starlink during the day. We know that on the high seas, as soon as the catamaran is moving, our flat rate is void, and usage is billed per use. So, we decided to use Starlink only at specific short times during the crossing for communication or emergencies. Data-heavy activities like downloading movies and series were off-limits.
By the end of the day, we discovered that 18 GB of data and 40 euros were used. Strange—there was an agreement, right? Lesson of the day: don’t grant open access. Habits of carefree internet use quickly consume data. Without clear regulations, it’s unmanageable on board. Unless you want to spend a fortune on data for the crossing, we know better ways to invest that money. From now on, internet access is only by arrangement and very brief.
In the evening, we enjoyed a wonderful baked potato with fresh garden salad, carrot spaghetti, homegrown sprouts, and a delightful vinaigrette. Healthy and delicious.
We sailed into the night with the jib and the mainsail at the first reef.
Culinary Delights Day 2
- Lunch: Udon noodle soup with miso, leeks, and peppers
- Dinner: Garden salad with carrot spaghetti, sprouts, and baked potatoes
Miso paste is an absolutely wonderful umami provision, it keeps for (almost) ever unopened, and even after opening will last a couple of months in a Tupperware container in the fridge. Miso is not just for Japanese-style dishes like udon noodles, I use it in all sorts of dishes.