Hi! This is Guido, and this is my tale of ouf first night sail. Did it fulfill my expectations? Completely. Was it easy? Absolutely not.
We departed Goldsmith around midday, expecting easterly winds to guide us most of the way. As the wind started to change we realized that not only the wind, but the tide and swell would not be on our side. We settled to do 2 hour shifts throughout the whole trip, which left us 6 hours to “rest” between shifts. I will write about two highlights that made this a unique experience for me.
Highlight #1: my first night shift started just as we were approaching the port of Mackay. This means sailing through the shipping channel, where massive cargo ships and tankers go in and out of the harbour. The wind was kind during that part. The interesting chain of events started when I saw that there were two cargo vessels going into the same lane we were about to cross through. Now, for those who never experienced this, I can tell you, it is incredibly thrilling. Even though the calculations of speed and heading added up, the fact of not being able to see a one thousand feet tanker coming your way is a little bit unsettling. Not only these vessels are the size of a city, but they are also incredibly fast. After crossing, I could distinguish a dark shadow, hiding every other light I could see, by then I knew we made it.
It was a bumpy ride, and even though Imagine is a solid, strong vessel, sometimes I experienced zero gravity while trying to sleep.
Highlight #2: I finally got some sleep. The ocean calmed down for some minutes and then I woke up to the sound of the motor going. Ran up to the cockpit, where Nivi was on the helm. Apparently, the wind shifted and there were a few rain clouds coming in. What made this so magnificent was the landscape I saw when I looked outside, I’ll try to describe it the best way I can:
‘The moon cast a dim light behind the heavy, water filled clouds. Only the contour of the boat could be seen, while the sound of the waves colliding against the hull resembled the absolute force of the tides. The horizon, hiding shy between the foggy clouds and passing waves, a reminder that we were there on our own, challenging nature at its finest. A glance back at the helm, where the red light inside, glittering like wine being poured during an Autumn night.’
Maybe I was still asleep, but this portrait in, in my head will not soon be forgotten.
All in all, this was an incredible thing to do, an adventure really. I also believe that it is important to highlight how safe the boat and the crew made me feel.
Till
