Leg 2, Day 19 – Doris and us

Day 19 – Doris and us

The ocean is where I belong. I have always known what it is I have to do. I am beautiful, strong, determined and my sole purpose in life is to protect. I am controlled and powered by the natural elements and by the brave that manually try to guide me. I am always a responsible traveller and I am completely self sufficient. My job is to ride the waves and ensure 6 women successfully accomplish an incredible expedition and travel from one coast to another one making safe passage across the almighty Pacific Ocean. I look after their well being at all times and make sure that they feel safe. We respect one another completely and so my job is a pleasurable one.

I am perfectly suited to whatever conditions I find out here in Oceania and taking each day as it comes, I love listening to the laughter, music and random ramblings that go on around me. Wherever I go I attract friends as I look a little different and I move in an usual way. I am not powered by an engine or by sails and I am silent when I move through the ocean except for the regular sound of 4 oars being pulled through the water.

Birds soar above me and among others, fish, whales, sea turtles and dolphins swim below. Occasionally some birds will stop by and rest for a while and flying fish jump over me, however some land short, and hit me instead.

During the daily tasks the girls give themselves, they check that I am clean and that no water has found its way onto any of my hatches. They spray my solar panels with fresh water and then give me a rub down. They make sure that if I have any problems or aches and pains, that they are solved quickly and effectively. The girls make sure they check my vital organs (batteries) and that my body remains clean, but to be honest their cleaning skills are not their strongest forte! Luckily the waves of the ocean rush across me and bathe me regularly.

I love my environment and being immersed in nature. There’s nothing that makes me feel happier and more alive than the beauty of my surroundings. This journey is a special one for all 7 of us!

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I asked the girls 5 questions today relating to Doris and our journey so far.

1. Favourite piece of equipment on Doris
2. Best thing about Doris
3. Worst thing about Doris
4. What you can’t live without on Doris
5. Most memorable moment on Doris

LP
1. Cabin fans
2. How sturdy and safe she feels in the waves

3. Lack of shelter from the heat and the sun
4. Tweasers!!!
5. First swim in the middle of the Pacific and looking down into the deep blue

Ems
1. The Iridium Go (for email communication)
2. That at only 29ft she has got everything we need to live for 6 months
3. The heat in the cabins
4. Sudocrem

5. One of the beautiful clear, still starry nights

LV
1. Cabin fans
2. Solbian Solar panels, giving us clean energy
3. Her movement makes me seasick!
4. Sunscreen

5. Swimming in the ocean for the first time

Natalia
1. Raymarine chart plotter and deck repeater / barbecue tongs (for picking up flying fish!)
2. She’s been one of my most unique homes to date and is allowing me to explore the Pacific
3. You can’t hide from anything! There is never any respite from the elements
4. Talc!
5. Humpback whale breaching only meters away from Doris

UPDATE:
After a spectacular sunrise and calm but unbelievably hot day, LP and I were about to do a changeover with Ems and LV when we heard a familiar sound. ‘Was that a whale?’ LP cried. I surveyed the surroundings and low and behold there he was. A huge solitary whale. It casually swam passed us in the distance, regularly surfacing and spurting water out of his blow hole and then gave us a cheeky flick of his tail before disappearing into the depths.
Thank you Oceania and thank you Doris
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