Lectures and food

I’m in my bunk, listening to my favourite tunes while the crew are on deck or in their bunks, some texting home, some reading, there’s that feeling of a big trip in the air, and it’s no wonder, tomorrow we set off to the Galápagos.

Today was briefing after briefing. We talked through all the safety equipment onboard, ran a man overboard drill, checked the engine, and after lunch ashore we sat in an aircon room for a weather brief while going through how to put a passage plan together. Big thumbs up to the crew for listening to my voice for that long.

After a delicious and fun dinner ashore, everyone’s gone into their own little bubble, that one where nerves mix with excitement and you can feel the start of the trip getting closer.

After many trips as skipper, I’ve realised this feeling never really goes away. The thoughts of making sure we’ve got everything, that little voice saying maybe we’ve missed something, or if we’ve covered everything before departure. I used to hate it, being on edge right up until we left.

Now I kind of embrace it, it keeps me grounded, keeps me aware.

And it makes that moment even sweeter, when the sails go up, the course is set, and the engine goes off, then it’s just us and the open ocean.

My happy place.