17 Jun 2008, The Brocade
[Photo: Roz and the notorious cabin roof in calmer waters in La Gomera, Nov. 2005]
Today I scared myself half to death. But only half, and I'm sure that half will soon recover itself.
I had to go out over the roof of the forward cabin again. This is never an enjoyable experience - the roof is curved and smooth and offers nothing in the way of handholds or footholds - but I really had no choice. The main line to the sea anchor was chafing on the towing eye and I wasn't sure it would last until the wind and waves calm down, so I had to get out there and do something about it.
I put on my harness and clipped it onto the safety line that I've set up across the cabin roof. I swung myself around the metal frame and sprawled across the roof in an effort to stay out of the water. But within a minute the large waves had knocked me off and I was dangling half in, half out of the water.
Now I'm here I might as well do the repair, I thought, and worked as quickly as I could, one handed, trying to lash a protective piece of rubber around the rope with duct tape, while the rope slackened and tightened with every passing wave. It was not a very elegant job, but I hoped it might do the trick.
Now the hard part - I had to get back on board.
This was not at all easy. There are grablines around the side of the boat - loose loops of rope suspended from eyes fixed into the hull - but they were at about hip height, so not easy to get my feet onto them. Even once I got a foothold, the waves crashing over my head and the tiredness in my arms made it impossible to get back onto the roof. I was hanging sideways alongside the smooth hull of the boat, getting colder by the moment, and unable to find the strength to pull myself back on board. I tried to stay calm. No point in panicking.
I took hold of the karabiner that linked my harness to the safety line, and managed to work it along the line towards the cockpit. I came a little more upright, but still couldn't reach safety. I was really running out of options now, and was wondering just how this would end. I offered up a little prayer.
A large wave came along and I used its surge to lunge for the metalwork frame on the cabin roof. I didn't manage to grab it, but I had a pair of scissors that I had lashed to my wrist to help in the repair job and these scissors caught in the frame. The cord tightened around my wrist. It hurt, but at least now I was closer to getting a proper handhold. I grabbed the frame and with a final effort managed to swing my leg around into the cockpit.
I was safe. Exhausted, but still in one piece and back on board. I stood there for several moments, spitting out seawater and thanking my lucky stars that I was still alive.
I was soaked to the skin, and it has taken me several hours to warm up, but apart from a few minor cuts and bruises I am fine. While I'm clipped on to the boat there's no way that I can become detached and drown. But exhaustion and hypothermia are very real risks, and with nobody around to help me they are risks that I cannot afford to take.
So it will be a while, or much calmer weather, before I go out on that roof again. It's just too dangerous a place to be.
Other stuff:
A big thank you to all who continue to follow my blogs, podcasts, and text messages.
And an especially big THANK YOU to all who have donated, either as a one-off or as a recurring monthly donation. All donations of $20 or more will be acknowledged in the scrolling Thank Yous at the top of this blog. (This may not be visible on some browsers). In answer to one question on the podcast - no, I do not have a private income (or a public one, come to that!), so all donations really are very much appreciated, helping me to spread the environmental message.
The watermaker worked today. That makes twice in a row that it has worked on demand. At first it sounded a bit grudging, like an old man being woken up from a satisfying snooze, but went on to do what it was asked without any fuss. Looks like the "oomph" theory might be working.
At the time of writing, I haven't yet received the latest batch of blog comments and email messages via my mother - presumably because yesterday there was a bit of a flap at mission HQ due to a lack of updates from my locator beacon. I'll catch up on them tomorrow - along with the next part of the "Welcome to my World" series.
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15 Jun 2008, The Brocade
124 Degrees West. A line of longitude that is now starting to assume legendary status in my imagination. I've now crossed it four times. Out and back, out and back.
I claw my way a few miles westwards, then the wind comes along and blows me back again. I'm sure one day I'll get across for good, but I don't know when that day might be. I just hope it's before I'm old and gray!
I know all things change, but right now I feel rather stuck, just about here on good old 124.
Yesterday I said that today could only be better. Weeeellll.. Maybe I was wrong.
The sea anchor had got itself in a right old tangle overnight, which took a couple of hours to sort out and redesign in the hope that it doesn't happen again. Then some maintenance on the roof of the forward cabin led to an involuntary dip in the ocean, which I did not especially appreciate. It's not exactly sunbathing weather out here.
And the rest of the day has been a no-rowing day as the winds rise and the waves steepen.
But life has a way of offering you a little gift and a smile, just as it's busy kicking you in the shins. Today's good news is that the watermaker worked, and actually sounded reasonably healthy. Maybe it was just battery trouble the other times? My theory now is that I need to use the watermaker when the sun is at its strongest, and hence my batteries at their most powerful - otherwise they lack enough oomph (technical term) to power the pump. We shall see, but for now it feels good to have a generous reserve of fresh water.
[photo: me wedged into a corner of my cabin, writing my blog on my Toughbook (see below)]
Other stuff:
Roger McGuinn - congrats on your changes for the greener! So you've dropped bottled water and got a green bag for the market. Also a stainless steel mug for refills. Well done you!
Jennifer Raiser - I think of your brother every time I use my (his) Toughbook - i.e. right now! It was really generous of him to let me use it for my voyage. Would be delighted to cooperate for an article in the Nob Hill Gazette - feel free to quote from my website, and if there are 2 or 3 quick questions then I'd be happy to oblige.
John Palmay - I usually write my blog in the evening, any time between 6 and 10pm. It's a very uncomfortable exercise - I am sitting here in my cramped cabin with my head wedged up against the emergency beacon on the wall, bouncing around with every wave and trying not to break the laptop or make too many typos! Nope, no news copters. I'm out of copter range now. Wouldn't mind a food drop - but spare me the Oreos! A slice of pecan pie would go down well, though.. (and, no, please don't send me a slice to Hawaii - it's just today's craving, and the moment will be long-gone by then!)
Kristin - will talk about my training in another blog sometime soon. Watch this space!
Hi also to Kirk in Oklahoma, Nicki on the rowing machine (did you get a WaterRower - they're awesome!), Xeno in California (thanks for the offer of Val, but I really prefer to go it alone!), Rob (a small running light - solar-powered, of course!), another Rob (I have thermals, but definitely need some neoprene socks as well).
And thanks to everybody else who is following my progress. And regress. And progress. And regress.
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14 Jun 2008, The Brocade
Looks like my Friday 13th luck arrived a day late. Yesterday went quite smoothly. Today did not.
The day got off to a bad start when I checked my position this morning and found that I'd lost about 6 miles overnight. Then this afternoon the watermaker wouldn't work. When I was trying to heat my dinner this evening, the cigar-lighter plug on my electric kettle fell apart (I eventually found the missing part still inside the 12V socket). This evening westerly wind (bad) started to increase. And my new sea anchor arrangement got in a bit of a pickle on its first deployment - it has taken me two hours to get it all sorted out, and I have now retired to my cabin feeling very cold and grumpy.
So, looking on the bright side.. Err, hmmm. I'm stumped. OK, I'm still alive and still healthy. But it's a pretty poor day when I review my achievements and the best one was that I finally got around to brushing my hair and putting it into ocean style - power pigtails (see photo).
Right, here's another good thing. Today was so lousy, tomorrow can only be an improvement.
I hope.
Other stuff:
Hi and thank you to all who are following my progress - whether it is via this blog, Facebook, the thrice-weekly podcasts with Leo Laporte, or via SMS text messages or Twitter.
A special hello to Michael Klayko, Tom Buiocchi, Leslie Davies and all at Brocade - my title sponsors.
Some answers to questions:
Andrew Waldby was wondering whether I get to see many other ocean goers out here and whether any other ocean cruisers try to make contact? Fortunately not. I feel much safer when there's not much shipping around. I've seen no vessels since I passed the Farralones on Day 2. Tonight I saw a plane flying really low over the ocean. Hope they weren't looking for me.
Fred Plappert was asking about some of the information that I was sending back during last year's bid - data about energy usage from solar panels, intake of carbs, protein and fats etc. I decided to simplify things this year, so am not sending back as much data - instead I'm focusing on what you could call the New Media - video, photos, and social networking (Facebook etc). But I believe that Margot Gerritsen may have written a blog about my sustainable energy capability on her Smart Energy Show (as she did last year). As for the food intake, my diet this year is rather different, inclining more towards a raw food diet including lots of homemade crackers made from sprouted seeds blended with veggie pulp - which would have been extremely difficult to analyse for carb/protein/fat content. The figures would have been so inaccurate as to be meaningless. So I'm sorry, but that data simply is not available.
Right, I'm cold. Time to snuggle into my sleeping bag and try to warm up my frozen extremities!
15 June. When Roz was talking to Leo Laporte yesterday she mentioned a very ugly fish that she had seen. Two kind followers sent references to these Sunfish, and there is now a picture in Roz's Smugmug Gallery. If you click on the logo which is in a little black box with a green smile - up on the right of this message - you can see her pictures.
Rita Savage.
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14 Jun 2008, The Brocade
This may not be the most exciting video you have ever watched - 30 seconds of me in action at the oars. If you want to know what my typical day is like, put this on a loop and repeat for 10-12 hours, with occasional breaks for meals and updates to the logbook. Welcome to my world.
Now you can probably understand why audio books are such an important part of my life. I really have to almost admire myself for getting across the Atlantic without them, and without music for all but the first few weeks. How on earth did I stand the tedium?!!
(I shouldn't say that though, really - the experience really did teach myself a lot about myself. There's nowhere to hide when you're with yourself 24 hours a day, with no distractions whatsoever. Definitely character-building.)
Today I was listening to Long Way Down, by Nick Hornby. Absolutely brilliant. Four ill-assorted strangers are thrown together by the fact that they all arrive on the same high rooftop on the same night with the objective of killing themselves by throwing themselves off it. I won't give away the plot, but it's funny, sad, and thought-provoking - perfect for a long day at the oars.
Unfortunately I was greedy and guzzled the whole book in one day. It's going to be a tough one to follow - and tomorrow may be tougher rowing-wise as well. The weather conditions will be getting a bit bouncier again today after the perfect tranquility you see in today's video. It's been a welcome respite - a chance to dry things out and pump/sponge out flooded hatches. I'm sure all too soon it will be back to business as soaking usual.
Other stuff:
To those who are going to try out yesterday's life-changer plan - thank you! Let me know how it goes. I'd be really interested in any feedback. I'll include you in the acknowledgements when I publish my first self-help book. Good luck especially to Steve in Colorado and his marathon plans - go for it!
John H - thanks for sharing your story about your father. It scared me - almost enough to put me off today's imaginary latte and muffin! And yes, you're right - a negative role model, of how we DON'T want to be, can indeed be as powerful a motivator as a positive one. It was negative role models and/or the lack of positive ones that helped get me out of the office and doing something a bit different.
Antti - great news that you can see both me and Hawaii on the same screen on the MarineTrack console. I keep looking over my shoulder, but can't see it yet!
A special hi to Romy - from both me and Zen Dog. Hope all is looking up in Aruba.
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