Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
I don't know if it was by coincidence or design, but suddenly, flying across the water, came
a speedboat heading straight for Déjà vu. Collectively, we all yelled to stand by and hung
on for dear life. The boat screamed by, followed by a huge wake, something we dreaded
was going to happen. We all screamed at the driver to slow the hell down! He gave us
an amused glance and kept going without any noticeable reduction in speed. Suddenly we
were awash in the wake, and Déjà vu rolled violently back and forth, her new mast al-
most flung over and smashed the boat or someone beneath it. Luckily, we had just tied off
the securing lines, and while they were very loose, they kept the mast up. The assailant in
the boat was nowhere to be seen, and we did not get a good look at whoever it was as it
happened so quickly.
The following weekend saw Jude and I back on-board with the boom and all the sails. We
spent a frustrating day on Sunday trying to sail Déjà vu. Our dear friend, Paul, and his
beautiful wife, Abbey, came out to our rescue once again, and as the sun was setting into
an absolutely gorgeous sunset, helped me rig up a better system for my Genoa lines and
staysail. We ghosted along just fine and dandy sipping glasses of wine and had the most
wonderful evening sail. Here's to you Paul and Abbey.
We were most fortunate to have a handful of wonderful friends who came aboard and went
sailing with us to show us the ropes. There was so much to learn, and I drank up the exper-
ience with insatiable thirst. Sailing into the wind, for example, was at first a mystery to me.
How did the boat move forward,while the wind was in front of us blowing in the opposing
direction to the boat's progress? It was explained to me by a friend that a boat's sail is much
like an aircraft wing with similar aerodynamic shapes. This wing-like shape, when exposed
to the pressure of the wind, will allow the particles of wind on one side of the sail to rush
past at a faster rate than the other side of the sail. The resulting phenomenon creates a va-
cuum on the sail at the area of lesser speed, and this vacuum literally sucks the sail (and the
boat) forward as it does in an aircraft.
Learning how to sail a boat comes in waves. It is learned from mistakes, near misses, and
downright dangers. The thrill of sailing a boat in high winds and choppy seas - the lee rail
gurgling underwater, the sails snapping and popping like cannons firing, the seams strain-
ing on the sails, the sheets tight and vibrating shedding droplets of water, and the terror of
the boat capsizing onto her side in the next strong puff of wind - was an incredible way to
learn about the limits of one's boat. I had to know these limits if I were to pit her against
the real seas, with wind and wave that dwarfed what we experienced there on the Vaal.
Lessons on sailing and Déjà vu's ability to sail came in gentle puffs as well. To keep a boat
moving in extremely light airs is remarkably challenging as well. Here all one's experience
comes into play with not only the sailing and choice of sails to hoist up the mast but sheet
control as well. (Sheets are the ropes that control the sails.) Often, it pays to allow the sail
