At Sea between the Gambier Islands (French Polynesia) and the Pitcairn Group (U.K.)
Today was a more “typical” day when one sails the vast expanses of the South Pacific Ocean by smaller craft. We had a day at sea. It was just one, but a real treat in these times of hurry and go. During days like these, time seems to slow down, rhythms and rituals scale back a notch and relaxation settles in. Today we are crossing an invisible line on the nautical charts from the Gambier Islands (part of French Polynesia) into waters claimed by the United Kingdom (the Pitcairn group which contains Pitcairn Island, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands). As a general rule of thumb, it is a long way from island to island and days at sea are for some a treat. For ancient mariners they were sometimes a nightmare. For modern day explorers, they are the heart of adventure and discovery. For us it is an important time to reflect and we are fortunate to sail aboard a modern, well-equipped, comfortable ship.
And while I only really know safe, comfortable means of long ocean travels, Thor Heyerdahl, from Kon Tiki: across the Pacific by Raft described one of his rougher days at sea as follows: “A chaos of waves…rushed upon us and hurled us round and sideways…High waves and low waves, pointed waves and round waves, slanting waves and waves on top of other waves…the weeks passed…The whole sea was ours, and, with all the gates of the horizon open, real peace and freedom wafted down from the firmament itself.”
I sometimes crave to know those older, rougher days at sea, but for now I will enjoy the means of travel I have before me. Sail on.
Today was a more “typical” day when one sails the vast expanses of the South Pacific Ocean by smaller craft. We had a day at sea. It was just one, but a real treat in these times of hurry and go. During days like these, time seems to slow down, rhythms and rituals scale back a notch and relaxation settles in. Today we are crossing an invisible line on the nautical charts from the Gambier Islands (part of French Polynesia) into waters claimed by the United Kingdom (the Pitcairn group which contains Pitcairn Island, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands). As a general rule of thumb, it is a long way from island to island and days at sea are for some a treat. For ancient mariners they were sometimes a nightmare. For modern day explorers, they are the heart of adventure and discovery. For us it is an important time to reflect and we are fortunate to sail aboard a modern, well-equipped, comfortable ship.
And while I only really know safe, comfortable means of long ocean travels, Thor Heyerdahl, from Kon Tiki: across the Pacific by Raft described one of his rougher days at sea as follows: “A chaos of waves…rushed upon us and hurled us round and sideways…High waves and low waves, pointed waves and round waves, slanting waves and waves on top of other waves…the weeks passed…The whole sea was ours, and, with all the gates of the horizon open, real peace and freedom wafted down from the firmament itself.”
I sometimes crave to know those older, rougher days at sea, but for now I will enjoy the means of travel I have before me. Sail on.
