You may remember, a few months ago, I was debating whether or not to join my husband on an Atlantic Crossing.
We're on a sabbatical this year, and going to spend the winter in the Caribbean on our sailboat. Awesome, right? But we have to get the boat down there, and he'd decided to do the quick way to get to the eastern Caribbean - an ocean crossing.
When we started talking about cruising, I claimed an opt out for crossings. Spending weeks on the boat on the ocean didn't appeal to me. But that was theory, and now we were actually doing it, a smaller crossing, and my husband wanted me to join him and his crew.
I had concerns. I'm not as good as sailor as the others, and was worried I wouldn't be able to pull my weight. One of the crew members moves around the boat with the ease of a cat. I'm more like an arthritic tortoise. A clumsy one at that.
I'm not as strong as they are. In high winds, there is a lot of pressure on those lines. I often have to ask for help.
And I don't do well with sleep disruptions. I get a headache if I sleep in, and stomach cramps when I fall behind. (I'm a joy, I know.)
At the end of the day, the only thing in the plus column was that he wanted me to be there. I had no other reason, so we agreed I'd fly home.
Turned out to be the RIGHT decision.
The day I saw them off, I was getting a cold. I could feel my sinuses filling up. Once I got home I spent two days in bed.
Then I got a text from my husband. He said I shouldn't have come.
Turns out, they had a rough time. Our boat is great for going fast on Lake Ontario. Not as good for an ocean crossing.
Vents on the boat that were never expected to be underwater were washed repeatedly by waves and poured into the cabin. A design defect resulted in a hole in the anchor locker and ended up flooding the v-berth (from cabin where the boat comes to a point). A hatch was left open by accident, scooping salt water in. The cabin actually had water pooled on the floor. (The boat has a draining system, so that means there was a LOT of water going in there).
Despite scopalomine patches, my husband could only eat a couple of cliff bars and some fruit for the first few days. A crew member who'd done a crossing from Europe said they'd have long stretches with nothing to do but read. He read two pages in a week. They didn't have that down time. Whenever they had any free time, they dropped onto the berths to sleep, still in life jackets.
They had two devices transmitting location. They didn't transmit for almost a day, and I got worried. Turned out one had been turned off by a crew member who didn't understand what the thing was doing, the other was put in the oven for safety during a lightning storm. Yeah.
They stopped in Bermuda, which wasn't the plan, but they needed a break. One crew member had to come back to work, and another one arrived yesterday. I flew down on Friday and back last night, but before you get too envious, I brought rain with me that only cleared when I left. So I can't tell you much about Bermuda except that it's super expensive.
They left Bermuda about an hour ago, with another week till Antigua. This should be an easier crossing: no Gulf Stream, better weather, but still, I'm back here now.
So I made the right choice, though not the brave one. My husband apparently told the guys that if I'd been there, he expected I'd have flown home from Bermuda and never stepped foot on a sailboat again. And that really isn't what we're wanting.
It's good to take risks, to try challenging things. But I think it's also good to be aware of our own limits, and not challenge ourselves to a point where we become a Darwin award recipient.
What about you? Have you ever taken the road more traveled, and been happy you did so?
If you're interested in how they're doing, check out the facebook page, YachtSayonara. I'll be updating whatever information I get while they're out, and we'll be updating our trip there once the real vacation begins. I also sometimes update on twitter (@missheyer74) and on my author page, or Kim Findlay, my website.
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| Helming on a calm ocean |
We're on a sabbatical this year, and going to spend the winter in the Caribbean on our sailboat. Awesome, right? But we have to get the boat down there, and he'd decided to do the quick way to get to the eastern Caribbean - an ocean crossing.
When we started talking about cruising, I claimed an opt out for crossings. Spending weeks on the boat on the ocean didn't appeal to me. But that was theory, and now we were actually doing it, a smaller crossing, and my husband wanted me to join him and his crew.
I had concerns. I'm not as good as sailor as the others, and was worried I wouldn't be able to pull my weight. One of the crew members moves around the boat with the ease of a cat. I'm more like an arthritic tortoise. A clumsy one at that.
I'm not as strong as they are. In high winds, there is a lot of pressure on those lines. I often have to ask for help.
And I don't do well with sleep disruptions. I get a headache if I sleep in, and stomach cramps when I fall behind. (I'm a joy, I know.)
At the end of the day, the only thing in the plus column was that he wanted me to be there. I had no other reason, so we agreed I'd fly home.
 |
| Leaving Hampton to Bermuda |
Turned out to be the RIGHT decision.
The day I saw them off, I was getting a cold. I could feel my sinuses filling up. Once I got home I spent two days in bed.
Then I got a text from my husband. He said I shouldn't have come.
Turns out, they had a rough time. Our boat is great for going fast on Lake Ontario. Not as good for an ocean crossing.
Vents on the boat that were never expected to be underwater were washed repeatedly by waves and poured into the cabin. A design defect resulted in a hole in the anchor locker and ended up flooding the v-berth (from cabin where the boat comes to a point). A hatch was left open by accident, scooping salt water in. The cabin actually had water pooled on the floor. (The boat has a draining system, so that means there was a LOT of water going in there).
Despite scopalomine patches, my husband could only eat a couple of cliff bars and some fruit for the first few days. A crew member who'd done a crossing from Europe said they'd have long stretches with nothing to do but read. He read two pages in a week. They didn't have that down time. Whenever they had any free time, they dropped onto the berths to sleep, still in life jackets.
They had two devices transmitting location. They didn't transmit for almost a day, and I got worried. Turned out one had been turned off by a crew member who didn't understand what the thing was doing, the other was put in the oven for safety during a lightning storm. Yeah.
 |
| Crew. Husband is the handsome one in the middle. |
They stopped in Bermuda, which wasn't the plan, but they needed a break. One crew member had to come back to work, and another one arrived yesterday. I flew down on Friday and back last night, but before you get too envious, I brought rain with me that only cleared when I left. So I can't tell you much about Bermuda except that it's super expensive.
They left Bermuda about an hour ago, with another week till Antigua. This should be an easier crossing: no Gulf Stream, better weather, but still, I'm back here now.
So I made the right choice, though not the brave one. My husband apparently told the guys that if I'd been there, he expected I'd have flown home from Bermuda and never stepped foot on a sailboat again. And that really isn't what we're wanting.
It's good to take risks, to try challenging things. But I think it's also good to be aware of our own limits, and not challenge ourselves to a point where we become a Darwin award recipient.
What about you? Have you ever taken the road more traveled, and been happy you did so?
If you're interested in how they're doing, check out the facebook page, YachtSayonara. I'll be updating whatever information I get while they're out, and we'll be updating our trip there once the real vacation begins. I also sometimes update on twitter (@missheyer74) and on my author page, or Kim Findlay, my website.
What an adventure! I'm terrified of deep water and get motion sickness, so an ocean crossing wouldn't be good for me, either. But I love to hear about it! When I'm at home, nice and still. LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm doing the living on the boat adventure, but as far as the crossing, I'm happy just to hear about it too!
DeleteThanks for this story about a tough let of the journey. I think you made the perfect decision--if my family hadn't done the waterway-Bahamas route (decades ago now) and had decided to go directly from Maine to the VI, I wouldn't have taken the kids and gone along. No way! Anything can happen on long voyages. I say, enjoy the sun and sand when it get there!
ReplyDeleteWe joined a rally to go, and there were families with kids and dogs going. One monohull had four kids and two dogs. I couldn't imagine! But they're safely in the BVI now.
DeleteKim, so glad to hear they and you are doing okay. I'm sorry they have had such a rough crossing, but you were definitely right to know and stick with your limitations. You probably wouldn't have been the help they needed. When you next join them, have a great vacay!
ReplyDeleteHusband has decided he'd never make that crossing again in this boat, but the worst is over, and they've got some stories. And they caught two Mahi.
DeleteI agree that it's important to push ourselves, but also to choose wisely. On some levels I admire the people who dive headlong into adventures, but I remember also that I also once got the nerve to start sending my creations into a publisher's hands.
ReplyDeleteAlso, glad to hear that everyone on board is safe, even if it was a miserable trip.
DeleteAdventures tend to be miserable while they're happening, and then you get to brag later. That sums up the time I ran a marathon, so I'm pretending it's equivalent.
DeleteThat does sound rough. I'm glad you were nursing your cold back home instead. I hope that is the worst of the voyage from here on out.
ReplyDeleteI'll be hearing over the next week, but I hope so too. Once they reach the Trade winds, it should be warm, constant and a gentler beam reach. Fingers crossed!
DeleteI love reading about this, but must admit it scares me vicariously, if that's a thing. Hope you're feeling well now and that there's smooth sailing ahead.
ReplyDeleteI'm fine - I'm here at home. I'm tracking the boat and they're doing 7 knots, so it sounds like they're going well but not crazy fast. I think that's good!
DeleteSometimes I take the road less traveled only to wish I'd gone the normal route. ;-) Glad you listened to that inner voice that said stay home! Still envious of your year sabbatical! Not that I don't want you to have, but I wish I could have one too! lol
ReplyDeleteThis time last year I never thought it would happen. Spouse always seems to push me into things, and I go. The sabbatical I'm glad about - but also that I resisted the push to do the crossing.
DeleteOh my goodness! The journey sounds super scary. I am with Patricia. Terrified of the ocean (I don't even like going to the beach) and I get motion sickness, so I'll keep both my feet planted safely on the shore, thank you very much. But kudos to people with such an adventurous streak! (And I'm glad you stayed home!)
ReplyDeleteHonestly, so is the dog. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love hearing about your adventure! So exciting and, yes, harrowing at times. But what memories. I used to take the road less traveled. Wish I was younger and more fit!
ReplyDeleteYou'd like to be crew? ;)
DeleteWow. I could never, ever do a sea voyage like that. I think I'd be claustrophobic and really scared, AND seasick! It's very exciting to read about though. Thank goodness for adventuresome people who can bring their stories to those of us who prefer dry land. I used to take the road less traveled, lots of traveling alone in other countries in days before cell phones and computers, where no one knew where I was! I still love to travel, but I prefer places like Europe and the US with a nice bed to climb into at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteThat's true. As our bodies get less flexible and take longer to recover, we need some of the amenities on that well traveled road. And a good bed is definitely on that list.
DeleteWow, Kim. I got tense just reading your account. I'm a land lubber for sure. Just finished reading "Lost at Sea, An American Tragedy" which made my stomach churn with every turn of the page. I use to get to my camp in Labrador in a heavily loaded Lund Alaskan, 30 miles up a lake that could be like glass one moment and be whipped into a gale in the next. I wore a mustang suit every single time regardless of the weather and it was not fun. Now I hire a Labradorian in a bigger boat to get me out there. (I still wear the mustang suit.) You made the right choice. Support your husband in his adventures, by all means, but choose your own adventures wisely. I'm so glad they made the crossing safely.
ReplyDelete