JesseMartin.Net
6th April 1999
IF it wasn't for the wind which picked up last night, I may very well have gone crazy out here.
I had three days of the most pathetic breeze which turned the sea to an oily desert.
The sun continued to beat down, following me around the boat as I tried to hide in the shade. It was a different way to experience the ocean all right.
I noticed how many small man-of-war jellyfish were floating around with their air sacks on the surface of the water. I also saw some more pilot whales and had a visit by a curious turtle, but the most excitement came when I pulled in my first fish, on Good Friday, of all days.
I was drifting so slow that the lure was as deep as it was far behind me and I didn't even notice the baby dorado that was hooked.
Though these have been frustrating days, I had to marvel at the tempting water which has returned to its beautiful, refreshing deep blue.
Fortunately the wind is continuing to pick up, which cools things down. The boat has dried out, but now I face another problem. Any water that lands on deck evaporates quickly, leaving salt everywhere.
It is more concentrated now than ever before and I have to be extremely careful with electronic gear. Apart from that, it is also sticky and attracts moisture in the early hours of the morning.
I was totally sucked in on April Fool's Day when my mates Paul and Chatri, independent of each other and confidentially, told me that another mate was planning to propose to his girlfriend.
There was no reason for me to disbelieve them, especially since they both said the same thing.
I don't even know the current date let alone when the first of April was going to pop up. It just shows how removed I am from the conventional way of life.
This week I got a question from Aimee at Research Primary School. She wanted to know if the voyage has been easier than I thought it would be.
In a way I would have to say it has. Before I left I really didn't know what to expect. I had read all the books about people who had done similar voyages and they scared the living daylights out of me.
I just thought to myself: "Well they've done it so there's no reason why I can't."
I knew that somehow I would adjust to the conditions that I was bound to experience and learn heaps as I went.
I don't want to sound like I took off with no idea at all, quite the contrary, but I set out slow, cautious and eager to learn how Lionheart handled.
I knew I had an excellent boat, thanks to Mistral, which ensured my safety in the worst case scenario beyond all doubts. It was the unknown that made me anxious. I didn't know what I would encounter.
In fact the hardest part is having the courage to attempt it in the first place, which I'm beginning to see is the case with a lot of things in life.
Jacob from Mildura South Primary School asked what was the first thing I wanted to do when I get home.
Each time it changes. Sometimes I think I want to dig into a whole tub of ice cream, while other times a souvlaki from St Kilda occupies my fantasies.
I will probably be content with a warm shower and clean clothes and to sit on a couch that is dry. To sit down with Lionheart safely moored will be a great relief.