Jun 8

Written by:
6/8/2010 4:24 PM 

I think I got lost somehow. I have my latitude and longitude, charts, visual bearings, but I still can't figure out which direction to point my bow. When the entire world is open to you how can anyone find their way?

Still anchored at HIva Oa I stare at a rocky mountain spire that shape shifts as the clouds dance along its shadowy peak. As the cool pacific air hits this massive obstruction it is forced upwards where it cools and the air condenses its moisture into the small light diffusing droplets making the clouds that keep the mountain semi veiled in mystery.

I was ready to leave today, physically at least. An hour before I was to hoist anchor a strong Northerly breeze filled in stretching my stern anchor rode tight. With a French boat anchored too close for comfort on my starboard bow I wasn't comfortable trying to hoist my anchors and go. If I had taken the dingy out to get the stern anchor Jargo would have been pushed forward over her bow anchor and come too close to the stern of those boats in front of me. If I retrieved the bow anchor first I would have swung to the stern anchor and potentially made contact with the French boat before I could have pulled in the stern anchor by hand. That would have left little time to get the dingy on deck.

Truth be told, I could have made either work, but given my indecisiveness it was a semi legitimate excuse to wait until dawn tomorrow when there is usually a flat calm to retrieve my stern anchor, hoist the dingy on deck, then pull my bow anchor and make way, somewhere.

I am still content, but it is an interesting feeling being here, now, with the largest passage I'll most likely ever make behind me. With the strain of that passage off I am remembering how to sit still again.