After a few days of calm seas, sunny weather, holiday vibes, sunburns, and very slow progress we were finally met by a strong wind. We were going too slow for manta trawling, and too slow to make Easter Island in time without too much motoring. At sea you can go to bed with a clear and calm sky, to wake up to a storm. Many have exclaimed their excitement for the change in weather. We are truly sailing now, the wind propelling us forward, making up for the last few days. There are so many types of sailing, and I need more words to describe them all. I wonder if the Polynesian languages have ways to describe the feeling of sailing in strong winds, light winds, and unpredictable winds. The wind, the ocean, the temperature, it all changes the feeling of what sailing is. 

And although most of us are loving this new experience, a few have been seasick for a few hours, getting used to the new rhythm of rolling over the waves. At breakfast, most of the people I spoke to slept fine through it all. Me and Alice did not, and we have laughed about our shared experience of trying every position humanly possible. There are so many ways a body can lie down in a few square meters; add pillows and other objects blocking us from rolling to the occasion and you might almost be able to imagine what a night getting used to a new tack looks like. 

Regarding the sailing, Alice said the following: “Turns out we are not as strong as we thought. It was actually quite humbling. I thought I was a strong capable sailor but then I was slipping all over the deck”.  

We have gotten quite used to sailing and steering in easy weather, but sailing with over 30 knots is something different. Alice’s infamous fall was heard and seen by everyone. Some worried, Peter cackling loudly because of how ridiculous it looked. Alice ran into the deckhouse screaming and giggling “I just slipped like a cartoon figure slips over a banana” transforming the situation into comedy.  

The day can also be described in a cooler way, like Ian did: “Well that was just wet. I’ll tolerate the wet, I may even enjoy it”.