Blog from Kinetic

by David Sutcliffe, July 12th, 2012

Wow, what a difference a day can bring!  We have escaped from underneath the cloud cover of recent days and are sailing in glorious sunshine, on intensely blue water, seemingly bottomless, with waves fringed with sun-sparkled spray. The water here is charted at five thousand metres (sixteen thousand feet) deep.  The fair winds continue unabated despite the disappearance of the cloud cover.  Crew physiques are emerging as we shed layers of long underwear, thermals and wet weather gear.

A few nights ago, torpedo trails of phosphorescent light streaking through the water, first on one side of the boat, then the other, and diving, crisscrossing at speed underneath the boat before sprinting to the bow to play in the bow wave; dolphins and bioluminescence: a natural phenomena reserved for the wonder of those who sail offshore at night.

Last night, a raw sensation of speed and darkness, or rather speed through the darkness, surging onwards among waves and through spray unseen but keenly felt, the long hours of the night watches sliding by.

Today, a few lonely birds, even fewer and lonelier ships unseen, and scudding wisps of cloud at various altitudes are all oblivious to our passage.  Kinetic sails alone, in this indescribably vast ocean.

The output from the galley continues unabated.  Spirits are buoyant with the sun and warmth.  Laughs and jokes and songs.  Tales of lore from days of yore.  A "boy-sterous" push-up contest on the deck.  Chores.  Sunscreen and wide-brimmed hats.

We enjoy a fresh batch of news from ashore, freshly arrived in emails from family and friends.  News from ashore also let us know that our satellite tracker had breathed its last, before its time, as is the way of so much technology. Fortunately, we carried and have activated a spare, which we hope lives longer than its predecessor.

Kinetic is Goin' to Maui!

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