Infinity has been a hive of activity over the past few days particularly this morning. We pulled anchor up at 7.15 am and the engine rumbled into life. We turned west and motored slowly down the Segondo Channel towards tuba island. We halted at a dock and a petrol tanker arrived after about 10 minutes.
It took a good hour and a half to pump 6000 litres of fuel into Infinity's three fuel tanks. Captain Clemens was super happy as the fuel was super cheap, only 80 Vatu which is about 0.48 pence a litre.
While this was happening the floors were being swept, mopped, the kitchen was being cleaned. Once filling was complete a group of us mucked in and cleared, scrubbed and jet washed the deck. The sun was beating down on while we worked. I reflected that, once upon a time not so long ago men fought WW2 in this climate, they couldn't just stop because it was too hot.
We then loosened the lines and pushed off, with the help of the outboard tender we moved out into the channel. For me this was a significant moment, the thought of not being on land for two weeks is an alien one, I don't know what that feels like. My negative anticipation had be blown away, excitement replaced all!
Once we made it around the headland we were exposed to a little more wind, wind is an overstatement, a light breeze is a better way of describing it; the seas are calm, almost flat.
We raised all three sails, the mainsail first, then the mezzanine and lastly the jib. Another group effort to get them all winched up and flying! It's an amazing site, the boat seems to grow larger when they're all up. Infinity is a double masted vessel, the masts are 32 metres high. We then knocked the engine off and let the wind take over!
We turned east and sailed up the coast of Espiriti Santo. A light breeze was blowing to the south west and filled our sails. Sitting at the helm with Eric, I remembered Fiji and how from our current position it was a straight sail South East and we were traveling West. It struck me then that a sailing boat holds infinite opportunity, to go any and everywhere one wishes. In that sense it's total freedom in that sense. We could load Infinity full of food, fuel and all other essentials and be at sea for two - three months, a crazy thought.
We continued north west on a bearing of 325 degrees throughout the afternoon. Due to a lack of wind we turned the engine back on to make progress. The sun grew really hot and rather uncomfortable. It began to set not long after this, an incredible site, so big, bright and beautiful. At dusk we pulled down the jib and knocked the engine off and went for a swim. It's quite something being able to just stop somewhere with a backdrop that beautiful and swim in the ocean, that water was 26.6 degrees.
Slowly the stars revealed themselves and the moon shone down on us, not a cloud in sight. It grew dark quite quickly, the port and starboard lights were switched on, quickly the boat became the only artificial lights visible. Not another boat in sight...
We all have scheduled watches, they're 4 hours long. 2 hours of driving and 2 of assisting the driver, this can involve making tea or driving while they go to the loo. My first watch is at 22.00 tonight till 02.00. The first two hours I'll be driving and the second I'll be assisting Sarah as she drives. I had a nap for a couple of hours before beginning my watch.
Driving was rather confusing at first, the aim is to stay on a compass bearing, in my case it was 315 degrees. With the wind and swells this becomes a little harder, so one must steers one way and until the course is corrected and then counter steer.
It took a good hour and a half to pump 6000 litres of fuel into Infinity's three fuel tanks. Captain Clemens was super happy as the fuel was super cheap, only 80 Vatu which is about 0.48 pence a litre.
While this was happening the floors were being swept, mopped, the kitchen was being cleaned. Once filling was complete a group of us mucked in and cleared, scrubbed and jet washed the deck. The sun was beating down on while we worked. I reflected that, once upon a time not so long ago men fought WW2 in this climate, they couldn't just stop because it was too hot.
We then loosened the lines and pushed off, with the help of the outboard tender we moved out into the channel. For me this was a significant moment, the thought of not being on land for two weeks is an alien one, I don't know what that feels like. My negative anticipation had be blown away, excitement replaced all!
Once we made it around the headland we were exposed to a little more wind, wind is an overstatement, a light breeze is a better way of describing it; the seas are calm, almost flat.
We raised all three sails, the mainsail first, then the mezzanine and lastly the jib. Another group effort to get them all winched up and flying! It's an amazing site, the boat seems to grow larger when they're all up. Infinity is a double masted vessel, the masts are 32 metres high. We then knocked the engine off and let the wind take over!
We turned east and sailed up the coast of Espiriti Santo. A light breeze was blowing to the south west and filled our sails. Sitting at the helm with Eric, I remembered Fiji and how from our current position it was a straight sail South East and we were traveling West. It struck me then that a sailing boat holds infinite opportunity, to go any and everywhere one wishes. In that sense it's total freedom in that sense. We could load Infinity full of food, fuel and all other essentials and be at sea for two - three months, a crazy thought.
We continued north west on a bearing of 325 degrees throughout the afternoon. Due to a lack of wind we turned the engine back on to make progress. The sun grew really hot and rather uncomfortable. It began to set not long after this, an incredible site, so big, bright and beautiful. At dusk we pulled down the jib and knocked the engine off and went for a swim. It's quite something being able to just stop somewhere with a backdrop that beautiful and swim in the ocean, that water was 26.6 degrees.
Slowly the stars revealed themselves and the moon shone down on us, not a cloud in sight. It grew dark quite quickly, the port and starboard lights were switched on, quickly the boat became the only artificial lights visible. Not another boat in sight...
We all have scheduled watches, they're 4 hours long. 2 hours of driving and 2 of assisting the driver, this can involve making tea or driving while they go to the loo. My first watch is at 22.00 tonight till 02.00. The first two hours I'll be driving and the second I'll be assisting Sarah as she drives. I had a nap for a couple of hours before beginning my watch.
Driving was rather confusing at first, the aim is to stay on a compass bearing, in my case it was 315 degrees. With the wind and swells this becomes a little harder, so one must steers one way and until the course is corrected and then counter steer.
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