You know I wasn't aware of it until I attempted it but it appears I have a little salt water in my veins. Apparently our earliest known ancestor from Australia was a crew member on a passenger/cargo ship based in Sydney (he died in a rescue attempt at sea leaving behind a wife and 3 kids – the state offered one crown in compensation), and we also had a great, great grandfather who was a steam boat captain trading on the Murray......apparently even my father was a water baby....he designed his own speed boat!

I'd never really even been sailing before attempting this and I completely understand what led my ancestors to it… the closeness to the elements.....the variety and intensity of the water….love it!

Living on-board amidst this variety and intensity however is where the challenge lies, as the sea and wind have a habit of kicking in just when you don’t need it to. Take the last couple of days for example…. Lots of work needing to be done on deck to get ready for sailing off and we get rain….followed by 2.5 metre swell and then 20 knot winds. Hafskip’s been doing monos on her mooring (straining at the end of her chain like a rabid dog) and the aft cabin has been crashing down in a vain attempt at replicating the bow movement. Couple this with the blah, achiness of a period, the inevitable queasy tummy and the residue of my last round of vaccinations I’ve barely slept for 2 days and would really have appreciated a little peace and quiet to curl up in foetal position for a few hours (the body needs to recover a little after constantly wrestling the motion in the cabin)…but alas….twas not to be…..at least until last night….. ahhh the relief….some rest and some respite….the body is now fit (albeit a little weary) to face the elements.

The wind is still up a tad but the pitching has ceased…thankyou Poseidon….you are indeed a benevolent god.