Projects, Provisions, and Predict Wind: Countdown to a Passage
9am on Thursday Nov. 9
Preparing for a passage - and an entire season away from Bella’s home port of Wrightsville Beach - has been an adventure in itself. I actually think the 10-day offshore passage might end up being the least eventful part of it all! Last week, my dad arrived from Michigan to help me with the preparations. He wisely advised me not to plan a going away party until we had a sure date of departure nailed down. When he and my mom were gearing up for their 4-year circumnavigation many years ago, they said they had about half a dozen going away parties before they left. I tried my best to learn from this, but it’s looking like I may be on the same track.
We had set November 6th to be the earliest possible date of departure. It is now the 9th, and we are currently shooting for Saturday the 11th. I’d like to be all ready to go earlier than that, but superstition says you can’t leave on a Friday… And so, on Tuesday I planned a bon voyage bonfire for Thursday. I call it positive thinking. But regardless of what day I leave, it will be very nice to get together with all my friends for the last time in a little while. I might just have to pretend “leave” and sit on anchor right off the dock if we are delayed anymore!
Our priorities consist of the following: projects, provisions, and Predict Wind forecasts. The projects are the main delay. Bella’s generator is currently sitting in the middle of the cockpit, waiting for - get this…an O-ring - to fix its oil leak…The brand new oven is waiting on a gas specialist to help replace the propane regulator valve that resulted in a fireball being spit at Matty and I a couple weeks prior…And there are several miscellaneous parts in transit that we are waiting on. A lot feels out of our control right now.
Yesterday, I grocery shopped for about the next 3 months of my life. If you’re wondering, that looks like a Costco cart full of nut butters, oats, chickpeas, plant milk, tofu, and dried mango. Stowing all that away into Bella’s many compartments will be today’s chore. I even found a handy-dandy vacuum sealer onboard for compressing all my pantry items. Lucky for me, I love surviving on tofu and granola, so I think I’ll be all set.
36 hours later…Friday evening.
Surprise! We’re not leaving tomorrow! The generator mechanics didn’t show up today, so we are now waiting until Monday. Despite my initial frustration and disappointment, it seems to be for the best. It’s looking like 25-40 knots of north breeze coming for us this weekend, so it would not be the most ideal first few days at sea. Hopefully, Tuesday will bring us a happy generator and a better weather window.
Predict Wind has a route-planning feature that my dad was simply too curious not to try out. You enter your start and end points, desired departure date, and what boat you have, and it spits out several suggested routes based on different forecast models. How times have changed in nautical navigation. I’m not sure how helpful it really is, but it’s pretty fun to play with! On the other end of the spectrum, we also have all the necessary equipment to practice celestial navigation while on passage. I suppose we have to balance out all the technology somehow.
My dad and I are really looking forward to the moment we sail out the inlet. He tells me that it will very suddenly all feel different. I don’t quite know what that feeling will be, but I imagine it will be somewhat mind-clearing. Depending on what weather we encounter out there, it could be a very slow-paced life for those 10 days. Once you’re sailing, there’s not too much to do during the day. I have a few little projects in mind, but mostly it will be books, podcasts, and maybe some bread baking if it’s calm enough. It could also be windy, cold, and rainy! We won’t know until we’re out there. Personally, I’d like at least a little excitement to spice things up.
Between the ever-shifting to-do lists and the many different friends to spend time with, I haven’t really slowed down enough to let it all feel real. My friends are acting like I’m going off to war - it’s the most love and hugs I’ve ever received! I, however, am having a more difficult time knowing how to act. My friends are more easily able to picture life without me here than I am to picture my life down there, leaving me a little lost in the realm of emotions.
This weekend’s weather (and lack of working generator) may have come for a reason - to step on the brakes just a little. Every day that passes with me answering another “when are you leaving?” teaches me lessons in patience and composure. I’ve had to adjust my imagined schedule multiple times now, and I’m realizing that’s simply all part of the process.
I hope my next update reaches you from the middle of the ocean (thanks, Starlink), but for now - the waiting game continues!
