Finally we arrived at Middle Percy Island, after our long sail from Goldsmith, turned into a very long, 33 hour sail. It was our first overnight sail. The experiences are as follows.
Nivi’s story: I had the first shift. It was back when the weather still was nice, the exhaustion unseen and the wind just right. Oh, how my innocent mind, still had thought of dolphins jumping around the boat, as we glided elegantly through the moonlit waters. On my second shift, everything had changed. It was pitch black. The boat banged against the water, as we went up and down, cutting through the meter high waves. Everything got thrown around in the saloon, onions and apples, books and guitars. Even Guido went across the hull. But I had no worries for them. My only thoughts, was with the instruments – my only eyes in this everlasting darkness. And how dark it was! I had heard the stories. Massive tankers, enormous cargo ships, ploughing ahead, stopping for nothing. In the back of my mind, I knew they where out there, roaming the deep blue sea, but thankfully, the chartplotter assured me, that they where all far, far away. What was getting much closer tho, was the rain. Never had I praised the hard cover of the cockpit so much as now. From the dry shelter of the cockpit, I could watch the spectacular inferno of rain and waves, merging on the outside. As the rain passed, the Radar told me, no further worries were to be seen. Again we only had the everchanging wind to fight against.
Authors note: As we arrived to our destination and anchored in the darkness of the night, a lot of thoughts finally had time to be. It was a trying, exhausting, but also a very giving experience. I felt like I learned a lot more in the hours alone on the helm, about sailing, the wind, the tides and not to forget, the instruments. I know a lot more now, about the power of the sea and how much a boat can take, being pushed around in it. It surely was a cool experience, but now, I’m happy we have some days anchored at Percy, resting and exploring the Island.
