Position 37:12N 35:02W, 300miles west of the Azores, North Atlantic
Half from the nervousness, half from the excitement, adrenaline wakes you up and makes you come to your senses extraordinarily fast when someone yells "Reef!" into the cabin. "Reef!" is what the person on watch yells out when the wind starts gusting too high for the amount of sail you have up, and a reef needs to be put into the sail (making it a smaller sail) in order to reduce the risk of the boat flipping over. When the wind blows strong like this, it makes all very exhilarating, yet gives you more uneasiness at the same time.
During the night watch shifts we are geared up like Rambo. A harness is worn at all times and strapped unto something wherever you go on the boat. On your wrist is the light beacon, and strapped onto your harness is the GPS locator. It gives you some sense of security, but as Eric says, when you sit on watch for hours on end through the night, you can help but think that if you went overboard while everyone else slumbered below, it would seem like you would be gone forever all too quickly.
You are on watch for 3 hours and then off for 6 hours. Every fourth day it is your turn to be "Mother" and you have no watch shift but are responsible for the cooking and cleaning. Eric and I are learning some more domestic arts as well and often make fresh baked bread from scratch! As we have been introducing each other (Matt and Pat are from the UK) to more things from each others culture, Eric takes on the burden of helping them get acquainted with fine American cuisine. Yesterday he made Peanut Butter and Jelly, and earlier made some good ole' fashion Jello.
We should see land on Friday! We will spend a few days at the Azores and then head out for probably another 6 days until we get to Portugal.
Jonathan
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Silly rabbit, Trix aren't for sailboats!
34.35 N, 43.56 W
I wouldn't say the ocean is angry; but I wouldn't call it all too obliging either. I don't so much pick up the feeling of murderous rage, I rather liken it to an over-the-top super-diva who knows she can get away with being difficult. And proceeds to take full advantage of that privilege.
The seas have become much rougher in the past two days than they were in the first five. The Mojomo pitches to and fro, and I subsequently pitch to and fro inside the Mojomo. Nothing too violent, but my hips have taken a bit of bruising from banging into furniture. And I've hit my head on more things than normal. Let's just say I'm glad I haven't brought my grandmother along (I love you Grandma!).
Every time a wave comes up and smashes the against the underside of the hull it sounds like thunder and sends a shockwave through the whole boat. It's a bit un-nerving being alone on the night watch when you can only see darkness but the boat is lurching underneath you and the wind is whistling through the sails (don't worry mom, we have loads of safety equipment on board, both high-tech and low-tech).
It's the little things that get you, like not being able to eat your morning cereal at the table on deck, because as soon as you raise the spoon to your mouth, all the milk blows away.
It sure is beautiful though. Jon wasn't kidding about the color of the water. Never seen blue like this.
Don't tell anyone, but this is my first time on a sail boat!
Eric
BTW - Sorry about the egregious lack of photographs as of yet. As it turns out, there are very few Wi-Fi hot spots in the open ocean.
Thanks to my sister, Holly, for posting our writings to the blog from the text-only messages we are able to send her over the satellite phone.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Stir Crazy!
May 22
We are now about 700 miles from the Caribbean in the Atlantic and hunting for wind. We catch a little here and there and are now heading farther north in an attempt to find some. Maybe another 10 days until we get to Horta in the Azores and then another 900 miles till Portugal.
Eric has started to become a little stir crazy and tried to run laps around the boat. He earlier tried to jump off the boat to save an old bucket that accidentally fell in the sea in response to the Captains sarcastic reply "Yeah Eric, go get that bucket." Luckily he had to take his sun glasses and hat off so we had time to refrain him from plunging in.
Tonight the sky is covered with clouds making the horizon invisible. The watch through the night will be slightly more unnerving as you stare out into the night with the ability to see nothing.
A few nights ago Eric and I went out into the night life for my 21st Birthday in St. Martin, where I proceeded to narrowly escape getting in a fight. sticking up for a few girls who a guy started to harass. Not long after the severely intoxicated guy was thrown to the street trying to fight multiple bouncers at once. It made for an interesting 21st.
We will be able to update occasionally during the voyage as previously unexpected. We can send out (not receive) emails through a Satellite.
Jonathan
And now, word from our Skipper:
Matt here:
Is there a more pretentiously-writen blog than this for crissakes? Jeez, whilst typing this they are arguing about the exact syntax of the sentences above. I don't think that's the important stuff at all. The main things you need to know is the very odd way in which their transat trip came about - only possible by the internet. We've (okay, mainly I have) broken lots of rules, such as that you should *never* sail long distances with people you haven't met (but it's worked so far, and quite brilliantly) and that a transat skipper should only take crew who have least reasonable experience on the water. But Eric and JJ have filled in the blanks swiftly, and with a smile. Tonight, JJ has been giving Eric dancing lessons, with Pat as dancing partner. Another great day. Oh, and finally, the answers you really want to ask but JJ and Eic will never get round to answering 1: No, there's nothing "going on" between me and Pat - my wife and her husband just don't much fancy the ocean sailing thing, and 2: No, there's nothing "going on" with Eric and JJ either, they're just good mates on an only-slightly-planned adventure.
(And the bickering between Eric and I is mainly me being "I don't care about the stikin sentence structure" and Eric reading over my shoulder wanting everything "in print" to be proper. After a short dwell with revolvers Matt conveniently had, we solved all problems. -Jonathan)
Why are there birds 700 miles out to sea? -Eric
We are now about 700 miles from the Caribbean in the Atlantic and hunting for wind. We catch a little here and there and are now heading farther north in an attempt to find some. Maybe another 10 days until we get to Horta in the Azores and then another 900 miles till Portugal.
Eric has started to become a little stir crazy and tried to run laps around the boat. He earlier tried to jump off the boat to save an old bucket that accidentally fell in the sea in response to the Captains sarcastic reply "Yeah Eric, go get that bucket." Luckily he had to take his sun glasses and hat off so we had time to refrain him from plunging in.
Tonight the sky is covered with clouds making the horizon invisible. The watch through the night will be slightly more unnerving as you stare out into the night with the ability to see nothing.
A few nights ago Eric and I went out into the night life for my 21st Birthday in St. Martin, where I proceeded to narrowly escape getting in a fight. sticking up for a few girls who a guy started to harass. Not long after the severely intoxicated guy was thrown to the street trying to fight multiple bouncers at once. It made for an interesting 21st.
We will be able to update occasionally during the voyage as previously unexpected. We can send out (not receive) emails through a Satellite.
Jonathan
And now, word from our Skipper:
Matt here:
Is there a more pretentiously-writen blog than this for crissakes? Jeez, whilst typing this they are arguing about the exact syntax of the sentences above. I don't think that's the important stuff at all. The main things you need to know is the very odd way in which their transat trip came about - only possible by the internet. We've (okay, mainly I have) broken lots of rules, such as that you should *never* sail long distances with people you haven't met (but it's worked so far, and quite brilliantly) and that a transat skipper should only take crew who have least reasonable experience on the water. But Eric and JJ have filled in the blanks swiftly, and with a smile. Tonight, JJ has been giving Eric dancing lessons, with Pat as dancing partner. Another great day. Oh, and finally, the answers you really want to ask but JJ and Eic will never get round to answering 1: No, there's nothing "going on" between me and Pat - my wife and her husband just don't much fancy the ocean sailing thing, and 2: No, there's nothing "going on" with Eric and JJ either, they're just good mates on an only-slightly-planned adventure.
(And the bickering between Eric and I is mainly me being "I don't care about the stikin sentence structure" and Eric reading over my shoulder wanting everything "in print" to be proper. After a short dwell with revolvers Matt conveniently had, we solved all problems. -Jonathan)
Why are there birds 700 miles out to sea? -Eric
Endless Blue
May 21
Eric and I float lost in a world of blue, hundreds of miles from the nearest land. Before this voyage, our understanding of the color blue was so inadequate. The deepness and richness of the color of the ocean will never be properly portrayed by pictures or films. Only here, where our crisp white sails are the only thing that slices through the endless blue can you understand.
Yesterday we stopped the boat and Eric and I quickly made our exits and dove overboard. The water is crystal clear and entirely void of anything except the strong rays of sun which penetrate deep into the unknown. We dive as deep as our ears can stand the pressure; columns of light shine straight down like pillars holding up the ever-shifting floor upon which our boat sits.
We had our first successful pirating expedition which yielded us the makings of an exquisite lunch, later to be prepared by Matt. On the tip of the horizon we saw the catamaran carrying two Frenchies sailing toward us. With climatic music blaring from the speakers, we raised the Jolly Roger, and circled our new acquaintances. They threw us some Mahi Mahi they had freshly caught and soon disappeared again.
Jonathan
Eric and I float lost in a world of blue, hundreds of miles from the nearest land. Before this voyage, our understanding of the color blue was so inadequate. The deepness and richness of the color of the ocean will never be properly portrayed by pictures or films. Only here, where our crisp white sails are the only thing that slices through the endless blue can you understand.
Yesterday we stopped the boat and Eric and I quickly made our exits and dove overboard. The water is crystal clear and entirely void of anything except the strong rays of sun which penetrate deep into the unknown. We dive as deep as our ears can stand the pressure; columns of light shine straight down like pillars holding up the ever-shifting floor upon which our boat sits.
We had our first successful pirating expedition which yielded us the makings of an exquisite lunch, later to be prepared by Matt. On the tip of the horizon we saw the catamaran carrying two Frenchies sailing toward us. With climatic music blaring from the speakers, we raised the Jolly Roger, and circled our new acquaintances. They threw us some Mahi Mahi they had freshly caught and soon disappeared again.
Jonathan
Thursday, May 15, 2008
A New Land
The adventure has begun! The Flights were rubbish, but the destination is epic. We fly not only from the states to the islands; we fly to adventure.
Our fellow pirates, Matt and Pat, are great. This is a huge relief knowing that we will be living in extremely close quarters the next few weeks.
The Mojomo is fabulous. A beautiful yacht which will make our crossing stylish. Fully equipped and stocked, it exceeded our expectations.
It may be 3+ weeks before we post again...
Our fellow pirates, Matt and Pat, are great. This is a huge relief knowing that we will be living in extremely close quarters the next few weeks.
The Mojomo is fabulous. A beautiful yacht which will make our crossing stylish. Fully equipped and stocked, it exceeded our expectations.
It may be 3+ weeks before we post again...
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Weight-cutting mission!
I’ve been so consumed by my preparations to tour Europe on a bicycle, I’ve barely so much as even thought about the sailing bit. And I’m on a weight-cutting mission!
The other day, I packed up my all my gear into my bike trailer and attempted a solo bike-camping excursion into Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains. I soon discovered with great certainty that this whole “touring” thing is much different than any biking I’ve ever known.
I am a pretty light dude who’s used to riding a pretty light bike. I’m used to having a ton of control over my machine and being able to put my skinny racing tires wherever I want them; no questions asked. This is very different than that. Towing 35lbs[?] of gear in a 13lb trailer will turn a once acutely maneuverable racing bike into a squirrelly, three-wheeled death-cycle with a will of it’s own.
Hills that were once barley a blip on the radar for my spry legs now deliver more lactic acid than I’d care to admit. My aluminum frame flexes and shudders under the newly added weight. As I endure the incline, I cant help but think “Aluminum frames aren’t supposed to flex and shudder. Aluminum breaks.”
I now find myself trying to decide what items on my packing list I absolutely need for this adventure and what items I do not.
I hope I make the right calls.
Eric
The other day, I packed up my all my gear into my bike trailer and attempted a solo bike-camping excursion into Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains. I soon discovered with great certainty that this whole “touring” thing is much different than any biking I’ve ever known.
I am a pretty light dude who’s used to riding a pretty light bike. I’m used to having a ton of control over my machine and being able to put my skinny racing tires wherever I want them; no questions asked. This is very different than that. Towing 35lbs[?] of gear in a 13lb trailer will turn a once acutely maneuverable racing bike into a squirrelly, three-wheeled death-cycle with a will of it’s own.
Hills that were once barley a blip on the radar for my spry legs now deliver more lactic acid than I’d care to admit. My aluminum frame flexes and shudders under the newly added weight. As I endure the incline, I cant help but think “Aluminum frames aren’t supposed to flex and shudder. Aluminum breaks.”
I now find myself trying to decide what items on my packing list I absolutely need for this adventure and what items I do not.
I hope I make the right calls.
Eric
Preparations
Eric is in LA and I am in Pittsburgh. Excitement builds as we attempt to ready ourselves for a trip sure to be characterized by the unexpected.
We try to pack and plan for maximum flexibility but only time will tell what pays off.
On May 14th we fly to St. Martin and meet our two, soon to be inseparable, other shipmates. A few days later we set sail into hundreds of miles of empty blue Atlantic aboard a 50ft Catamaran.
Jonathan
We try to pack and plan for maximum flexibility but only time will tell what pays off.
On May 14th we fly to St. Martin and meet our two, soon to be inseparable, other shipmates. A few days later we set sail into hundreds of miles of empty blue Atlantic aboard a 50ft Catamaran.
Jonathan
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