The sights you see…
by John Curnow 15 Jan 2018 01:54 UTC
There's something about a wave and rooster tail that just makes the world a better place © John Curnow
…When you don’t have a gun. It’s an old saying, that’s for sure, and in the politically correct world in which we now live, you would have to wonder if you can even say this great line anymore? So rather than get stuck on that point, we’ll simply just move on, directly.
Sometimes it is nice to have a plan to stick to, and with others it is just good to wander. If you have your mind open and your eyes adjusted, you can see so many things that may ordinarily simply slip by.
Recently, I was able to escape for the whole day and go for a cruise. Yes a whole day I hear you say, but when the pressure’s been on for ages, a day can seem like a holiday. The word had come out. We were off for a trip of about 25nm down to see some seals, and then back again.
It would be an earlyish start to catch an outgoing tide, and then a kite ride home in the sun after it had turned. A gentle breeze was forecasted, and it was to be from a favourable point of the compass. Apparently Huey did not get that brief, for it was not only cold, but blowing bags, and coming from almost the reciprocal of the now swiftly marching out 2.5m tide!
The moguls meant spray over the deck, and so a jacket was donned. Not sure where that was in the brochure, but at least I had the gear to utilise in the first place!
As we pushed on to the first turning mark it all became very nasty and so the headsail was not even deployed. No need to get too serious and have to start hiking, you know. So as we reached the lovely sandy beach that marked a course change, we flattened out, the breeze softened, the sun appeared almost unobstructed, and the tide began to whisk us away and out to sea, post haste!
Much betterer! The owner commented that his watch now said 1200hrs and 44 seconds, so the first of the attitude adjusters appeared on deck to the delight of all. Conversation piped up, you could sit on the leeward side without the need for bracing, and the world slipped by, taking all of us with it on a journey to peace and harmony.
The swell line where the bay met the sea was still large by the time we got to the rocks to look for seals, but it was not that which told us we had got there, but rather the intense guano fest! Waves and rock caves had us all pondering, but it was the cray pots (rock lobster) that had me thinking about safety and MOB situations.
This in turn set up the rhythm for the return when the Ace came out, and some hiking was required. The sights got changed, and that angle from right out on the rail always turns in a good image. Yet it was the overriding notion of cans, as in buoys, that was still in my mind as we cruised past one that was marking danger. Sure was! Had me wondering if just a little more warning may have been useful and pertinent, however. Maybe those birds do have super-long legs, but they are not flamingos!!!
At any rate, it was the yacht parked virtually on the beach with absolutely no sails on deck that may have had the right idea overall – lunch. And that was it. So stemming from all that I was delighted to take in so many sights and let the mind wander about as far and wide as was possible. That certainly sounds like an ideal way to cruise to me…
So it is time to move to the news, and in the intervening time since the last little ditty there has been a lot going on. Out of them all, the following on a forum somewhere piqued my interest the most. Given their ‘handle’ (cyber speak for username) I think Australian, their desire to save a buck, and the way they write I would say they are part of the younger set of cruisers.
Specifically they ask if one can anchor throughout Winter in the Med, not withstanding foul weather. Not overtly concerned about comfort either, I think in and of itself it poses an interesting question, so if any of you have the answers, or indeed one of the souls on board the 38-footer in question have learned something, then we would be delighted to hear from you via email.
Today you will find that we have tales for you about the Galapagos, whales helping humans, Mission Océan take us on adventures, inland Japanese seas, safety at sea, Tasmania (specifically the wild West Coast), syndicates, microbeads in the ocean, USCG activities, World ARC, changing sea cocks whilst in the drink, awards, the world’s coral reefs, Bavaria’s new C65, C50 and C45, Multihull Solutions show (Southern Hemisphere), snow in Florida, snow in Europe, the use of sextants, shore power, Pantaenius take us back to post-hurricane Caribbean, Cape Town, meteorology, as well as much more.
So you see, there are stories, lessons, inspirations and history to regale yourself with. Please do savour… We’re really enjoying bringing you the best stories from all over the globe. Remember too, if you want to see what is happening in the other Hemisphere, go to the top and the drag down menu, select the other half of the globe and, voila, it’s all there for you.
Now then, are you out there plying the seas and got something to say? We’d love to hear from you via please email us
In the meantime, do you love being on the ocean? Well remember to love them back too. They need our help. Now more than ever! Until next time…