Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
which was now whipping around in the wind. We had slowed down quite a bit and the boat
felt a little more stable. I needed to keep the little jib up and full to stabilize Déjà vu as well
as to keep her moving; she needed to make headway to keep her steering off the face of
these waves. She just didn't need to be doing it that quickly!
I retreated to the cockpit on my knees and surveyed the scene as best I could. We had lost
most of our light now, and I had to devise a plan with the running rigging in such a way that
we did not spend this God-awful night out in the elements. “Try lashing the helm amid-
ships; let's see what she does,” I yelled to Gavin above the din. He had perked up visibly
after the boat had slowed down.
He did just that, using the guide lines alongside the tiller, and we were delighted to see that
the grand little lady steered herself. Now that her stern was being slowed down from be-
hind, she was kept going by the constant action of the waves bearing down on her, as well
as the little working jib up front. So far, so good. We sat for at least another half an hour
outside to make sure she was OK, and then I turned on the cooking gas and crawled down
below, intent on making some hot food.
“I'll do that!” said Gavin, hard at my heels down the steps.
“OK, maybe some of those canned ravioli would be nice hot.” We tried not to notice or be
too affected by the violent motion. It was warmer and quieter down below, protected from
the freezing elements outside. A hot meal was just what we needed.
Two cans of ravioli and a can of Bully beef were heated together on a wildly rocking sauce-
pan that had been lashed down on the stove. The stove was not gimballed, unlike the old
one that I had had to throw out. Within minutes the wonderful smell of the pasta and meat
pervaded the confines of the steamy saloon. Gavin even managed a smile and a little joke.
The hot food was very welcome, and we wolfed it down in record time. Hot, strong cof-
fee followed, and I hastily cleaned the dishes with paper towels and stowed them, lest they
were hurled about the cabin.
We each retired to our quarters after a while. Paraffin lamps were silently lit and turned
down low. An eerie yellow light filled the cabin after the harsh fluorescent light we had on
earlier.
I opened the brass porthole a fraction between the companionway bulkhead and cockpit. It
was stuffy below with all hatches and ports tightly sealed. The noise from outside was more
obvious now, but there was a strong, cool draft in the cabin. The paraffin lights flickered
occasionally but did not go out. I lay down on my bunk and tried to close my eyes. I was
exhausted. I had been running on adrenalin all day and shook with fatigue. I must have
dozed off.
