25° 03.42'N 17° 16.44'W
Sailing
Some came on the trip for the promise of it, others were only hooked after a full week of sailing
Once addicted, navigators will emerge from down below only to get their fixes two times per day, and spend the rest of their days and nights down below doing complex spherical mathematics.
On Adrienne II, our skipper is our dealer. It is evident that Manot has been addicted to sextants for a long time, and he has willingly shown anybody who wants to learn how to get their fix. After some practice, this person will undoubtedly spend the rest of their passage in deep thought down below; pen and paper in hand trying to work out a perfect position.
On this trip, our crewmate Tonya was the first victim. A competent helmsman right off the bat who spent much time behind the wheel of Adrienne, she now only comes out twice a day to get her fixes and can then be found down below. Next was Naxo, our mate. Since getting hooked, he has not cleaned a single head, instead shooting the sun with the sextant, and adjusting for dip and declination in the salon.
As you have probably figured out at this point, the drug of choice on board is, of course, celestial navigation- an art which has hooked offshore sailors for centuries.
That is not the worst of it, though. I must confess that I myself gave in to the strange urge which I’ve felt witnessing my crewmates practice this fine art, and yesterday felt an amazing sensation as I was able to wield the sextant for the first time and with it, bring down the tip of our starboard spreader to the top of our front sprayhood, presicely measuring the angle between the two (35deg, 38,8’ min). This afternoon, Naxo then showed me how to get my fix from the very sun itself - and I now fear there is no turning back.
I hope everyone at home is doing well. I must now stop writing as I have some complex spherical mathematics which require my attention. It remains to be seen who will clean and cook the rest of the trip as I, too, likely will focus all my energy on my next fix..
Anton Wahrby
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A Heavenly High
As you have probably figured out at this point, the drug of choice on board is, of course, celestial navigation- an art which has hooked offshore sailors for centuries. Once addicted, navigators will emerge from down below only to get their fixes two times per day, and spend the rest of their days and nights down below doing complex spherical mathematics. On Adrienne II, our skipper is our dealer. I must confess that I myself gave in to the strange urge which I’ve felt witnessing my crewmates practice this fine art, and yesterday felt an amazing sensation as I was able to wield the sextant for the first time and with it, bring down the tip of our starboard spreader to the top of our front sprayhood, presicely measuring the angle between the two (35deg, 38,8’ min). This afternoon, Naxo then showed me how to get my fix from the very sun itself - and I now fear there is no turning back.
The gobbledygook of sailors
We sailors can come across as a cryptic bunch. Similar to almost all niche endeavors, it boils down to efficiency, safety and tradition. There are so many "ropes" and so much gear on a sailboat, that trying to identify them by descriptive terms just wouldn’t cut it. We’re in one of the best learning environments available to offshore sailors, and mistakes are a part of the process.
Dive on in
Life aboard Adrienne is hot and sticky. It was hilarious how fast we all started moving once we heard we might go for a swim in the ocean. With our captain’s blessing, we started jumping in, hooting and hollering, grinning like children on a carnival ride. It was simple and delightful and also mind-boggling to be bobbing and washing in the great ocean under a clear sky with nothing around but our floating home and each other. But the deeper cleaning of this ocean plunge will certainly linger for days.