Day 56 – DIY
I have learned lots of new skills since becoming involved in the Coxless Crew project both in the journey to the start line and the journey across the ocean. One of my favourite learning curves has been my DIY apprenticeship with Uncle Tone. Before we reach each stopover I make a list of the maintenance jobs which need doing which aren’t so easy to do whilst riding the waves. When, in leg one we had to return to land after 16 days to fix our electronics we also had a long list of maintenance jobs which we had compiled while getting used to life on Doris. These weren’t things which affected the integrity or safety of the boat but which would make things more efficient, easier or tidier on board. For example we fitted bungee between the pockets in the aft cabin for extra storage and a new cover for our vents in the fore cabin to stop leaking when big waves flood the deck. Now when I say we did this, what I actually mean is that Tony worked and I assisted and learned. I have come to realise that almost anything can be fixed with epoxy putty, that araldite will glue anything and that I love taking things apart and putting them back together again better than before. On land we have modified the seat setup, shortened the oars, installed storage in the aft cabin roof, fixed leaks, installed fans and replaced various items. I can now be trusted to wield the cordless drill, saw and marine sealant unsupervised. I have also learnt a lot about electronics, solar panels, boat setup and how Doris was put together through the different maintenance jobs we have needed to do since we left San Francisco.
DIY has become one of my roles on Doris while out at sea as well as on land, probably because things that squeak, rattle, flap, grate and creak annoy me before they annoy anyone else. Now when anything breaks I am the first port of call for the girls. The DIY jobs on Doris are ongoing while we are out on the water and mainly involve WD40, gorilla tape (I don’t believe you can have too much of this stuff on board, Tony thinks that three rolls is too much!), and our trusty screwdrivers and spanners. The salt water makes things rusty and squeaky and the different rowing fittings loosen over time. Recently I’ve had to tighten the rowing riggers, fix the oar collars, clean and lubricate the seat bearings and WD40 the wind vane and go pro camera fittings, regularly tighten the grab rails and adjust the hatch handles. I love the satisfaction of a job well done and am looking forward to taking my new found DIY skills and the drill back home and getting started on some new projects.
UPDATE: Last night was probably the most beautiful of this leg so far. When Megs and I came out onto the oars for our first night shift it was pitch black, the inky darkness enveloping us, the ocean silent around us. As we pulled our oars through the water the sparkle of phosphorescence glittered. Over the two hours the clouds slowly thinned and then dispersed leaving a sky filled with thousands of bright stars which were reflected all around us in the mirror flat water of the mighty Pacific. We then heard some splashing along the side of the boat and I thought I saw a fin. It disappeared but about 10 minutes later a fin glided up alongside us and we saw a huge shark swimming beside Doris. It was Eduardo, back with us after heading home to spend Christmas and new year with his family! He came back a few times through the shift and then again to visit Nats when she came out to row. Our second night shift started with the same magical star filled sky, followed after an hour by the moon glowing red on the horizon. As it rose up a shining path reflected on the water lighting the way to Cairns. We wished on a couple of shooting stars and felt incredibly lucky to be experiencing what few people will ever see. Our final night shift found clouds gathering on the horizon and as dawn began, the sky lit up a bright orange. As it faded away we thought the show was over but as the sun peeked over the horizon the sky glowed once again before giving way to a clear blue sky and sunshine as day 56 began.