Mr Oxley

We made our second departure from Trinidad on the 12 September, it has really been pretty easy out here with the exception of running longer shifts,  since we are now only 3 people, we are running 4 hour shifts each. Makyla has also taken on a bigger role helping Eric more with the sails, dealing with the helm and sheets when I am off shift, so this too has been a great experience for her, there have been many learning curbs for us girls, being short of those extra man hands.

We have enjoyed lazy days, sharing this open space with the sun, sea and the stars. There has even been time for some good food and wine.

You will know from previous stories all the action happens on my shift 😁

As I came on shift at 04:00am to be greeted by a very exhausted Captain, who mumbled about the lack of wind, and that Mr Oxley is barely holding himself up, and at a slight angle since the wind is coming at 110° this puts him at a slant to port, but still flying and pulling us along at around 6knots but just barely, Captains instructions to me " if the wind drops or if the wind comes more from port"  I need to wake him up so that we can take Mr Oxley down" I would of course visually see this because he would start to collapse into himself. 

About 30 mins into my shift the wind had totally died and Mr Oxley was collapsing, thankfully it happened quickly so I figured Eric would still be awake, I stuck my head into the cabin and said "Babe the wind is gone its time to take him down" In those 10 seconds all hell broke loose, before I managed to get back up the stairs to the helm station, I felt the wind screaming back to life and howling around the boat. The sound of the sheets slapping and the sail thrashing, was cause for some stress. Eric rushed for his life jacket, Makyla came rushing out of her cabin as the loudness of it all had woken her up,  realising that she too needed a life jacket. By this time there was nothing we could do, but watch Mr Oxley scream and flap and moments later there was not a breath of wind. We had not experienced a single squall on this trip and we have been at sea now for 3 days, this came from no where and unpredicted just to remind us to never become complacent or too comfortable out here, we are dealing with mother nature after all. We hit 30 knots of apparent wind speed, slamming us from port, this, from having below 10 knots. My mind still does not totally understand this.

Mr Oxley shredded himself down the starboard side of Intle before Eric and Makyla could bring him back on board when the wind once again vanished like a ghost. 

We have no idea of the extent of the damage, although we are feeling hopeful, that we will be able to purchase a new one in Curaçao. That is going to hurt the bank, but this beautiful blue piece of cloth is simply amazing. Oh how we miss you already Mr Oxley .💔