June 26, 2015
We’re in Fiji now, tied up in the strange but wonderful marina at Vuda Point (pronounced “Vunda”). I’m happy now, with a big smile, but this is how I looked for most of the passage from New Caledonia to Fiji. I shouldn’t complain. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but that’s kind of like banging your head against a plaster wall versus a brick wall. Plaster’s a little softer, but it still hurts!
By not as bad as it could have been, I mean that a 750 mile sail against the trades can be really bad, or even impossible. We had a pretty good weather window – probably as good as we could have asked for, and a brilliant weather router – Bob McDavitt. The wind was on the beam the whole way – never going forward into I-want-to-die land. Yet still, it made my face looked like this kid’s for five days and ten hours (it actually still looked like this as we sat on a quarantine buoy, bouncing around in the waves, awaiting clearance).
For me, this life out here can be so much worse than any life I’ve experienced on land. And it can be so much better too. It’s the so-much-better parts that makes me forget about the so much worse parts.
During this passage, I told Cyndi I never wanted to do this again. She suggested I wait until after we were in before making any life-changing decisions. Probably a good idea, I guess, but I maybe I shouldn’t wait. If I wait until even one beautiful bay, or one wonderful evening with friends, I’d end up making another passage and swearing that I’ll never do it again. A vicious cycle!
If I’m honest with myself, at times, my life on land was much worse than a passage. Times like when clients didn’t pay and we worried about where our next house payment would come from, or times when it looked like there’d never be any work for me again. We always managed to make the payment, and find a project. I’d forget about the bad times and the cycle would continue (hum, sounding familiar?).
Anyway, I’m already telling myself that this last passage wasn’t so bad (hard feelings cured by lunch and drinks with wonderful friends after our customs clearance). My passage face is gone, at least until December and the next passage, but lets not think about that now! -Rich
P.S. Are passages really equivalent to having the flu? See this link.
