Canadian Yachting February 2020 - 67

This morning, the batteries were coming adrift. Not true: a
block banging on the deck whenever a wave came aboard
was the culprit. What has eluded me so far, however, is the
artillery barrage coming from the upper fuel tank. No idea
on that yet but it's interfering with the Zen of a sailboat
gliding over peaceful seas.

Bounding through the night, a bone in her teeth, Seaburban
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barely out of sight. But I promise Janner, I'll do my best
not to hit it.

Crew

Salty is hitching a ride all the way around the world. It's
It has been lazy sailing so far. With another six months not so much the adventure or challenge given that he has
ahead of me at least, let's just say I'm pacing myself.
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A J o b O f Wo r k

It's not all tinned herring and super-sized cans of ravioli.
Oh no, there's actually work to be done. Here on Seaburban,
as it is ashore, not all jobs are created equal.
As far as I am concerned, anything to do with rope, needles,
twine, canvas or charts are sailorly jobs. Everything else
just seems like work.
The better part of today was spent making up preventers,
pole guys and chafe gear. All very sailorly; all very enjoyable. The better part of next week might be spent in San
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WREUHDNRXWRIWKHFRFNSLWˌRRUDQGPDNHIRUSDUWVXQknown. Compared to whipping the ends of the whisker pole
guys, not very enjoyable.
I'll remain optimistic. Rick Whiting, the Ocean Cruising
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speed me on my way. I could not be in better or more enthusiastic hands.

Night Moves

Salty has yet to lower himself to speak to me but he is not
above taking his watch. I've got a picture to prove it as his
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save a life. Like every good Jack, Salty The Silent can steer
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helm.

As I sit at the nav station, Seaburban rushes headlong into
the night. Below there are only hints as to what is happen- Although we've not had words, Salty can glare. For the reing on the deck.
cord, here's the different ways Salty has glanced my way:
with alarm, disdain, disapproval, disgust, indifference and,
You can hear the water sliding past the hull but it is a curi- PRVWUHFHQWO\DJKDVW,VKXGGHUWRWKLQNZKDWZLOOˋQDOO\
ous arrangement that is not altogether soothing. There are make him speak. Hopefully, it won't be to say goodbye.
the bumps, slaps and bangs of the odd wave accompanied
by the crack of a back-winded sail. It takes some getting
used to but they are the sounds of a small ship at work.
0\VLVWHU/HDKJDYHPHDVPDOOHQYHORSHWKHGD\,OHIW9LFtoria with orders that it be opened the following day. This
The moon is not near full but the night is not dark. Without FKDUPDQGQRWHLVZKDWWKDWHQYHORSHFRQWDLQHG0\H\HV
the sun, moon or stars for days I had no good idea of where strained through tears as I read that little note over and
I was. Tonight, though, I had my pick and my position is over.
not nearly so uncertain.
Leah and Nani are my shore-side support team. They have
With only dead reckoning to rely on for position, I was the hardest job in all this. I just have to sail the boat. WithVXUH,ZDVQȢWDERXWWRUXQVPDFNGDELQWR$QWDUFWLFD0\ RXWWKHPDQGWKHUHVWRIP\IDPLO\WKHˋYHFDSHVZRXOG
sister's son Janner, however, wasn't so sure. He asked that be a dream and not a reality.
I be extra careful about not hitting Antarctica.

A Charmed Life

Janner likes to go sailing with me. Truth be told, he likes
to dress up as a pirate, eye patch and all, when he's on
the boat. I think he likes that more than sailing. He also
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Abyssal Plains

Plotting my noon position on a large scale chart of the EastHUQ3DFLˋF,UHDOL]HG,ZDVRYHUDQDE\VVDOSODLQ%DVLFDOO\
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Growing up on the prairies, I know something about dead
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Canadian Yachting February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting February 2020