We are on the home straight after a late get away this sailing season, we snared magical days and experienced so much along the way. We have spent the last 3 months with storms, whales, coral reefs, shoals, and some mechanical issues along the way up and now back down the Queensland coast most avoided... but those that weren't avoided, well they were rectified.
*(Next blog I will explain the one situation that needed marine rescue assistance) 😬 we have come out the other side thankfully, graciously and humbled.

Anyway, He Who Hums has many hats- and I don't mean cricket caps. He's not special, every boater has to have an array of interchangeable hats (unless you have an engineer onboard then you can just wear one) 🧑‍✈️
The skill set required:
a mechanic, an electrician, a plumber, a navigator, a general fixer, a weatherman, a cloud reader, a wind predictor, and a water maker and a deck hand etc
ME- I am just an explorer with messy hair, a cook, a photographer, the creator of creature comforts ....and as it turns out I'm a gold standard mind reader, most of the time! Which is probably my most polished skill. This single talent of mine is utilised for He Who Hums, Condesa and Murphy. Ie Murphys Law.
I recall He Who Hums has said..... in no particular order, nor any particular day, can be any time of day, anywhere......

-Why did the generator turn itself off?

-Is this I-pad loosing power ?

-Pass that to me so we are ready for tomorrow?

-Cut the Revs, The-what's-a-name pulled itself out!

- I should always have that thing on when on anchor.

-So you're all good everything is set for you, let's go! (A loaded statement)

- Oh and I'll need that tool!

Now a few of these may or may not even be for me to reply or action, but it doesn't stop an explorers brain from kicking in to seek if one can work out the riddle.
And I am happy to say 9 times out of 10 I know exactly what he is on about. I always hope that 1% is never when we are a situation aka *shituation.

I on the other hand (the explorer with messy hair) will ask... "is everything ok"? And He who Hums, I find is humming! So that's a yes! See how good I am?

Onboard Condesa, it is a tag team of unspoken words in our preparations to exit any port and then more of the same once under way. He'll mark the waypoints on the map. I take the helm, he will weigh the anchor, I exit the anchorage then he sets the sails, he double checks the route and I continue heading Condesa in the direction of her next destination. Working in unison doing the jobs that need doing and by the time Condesa is away from shore, she 's had time to settle into a rhythm, we would both be morning tea ready. When He returns from the galley after putting on the kettle. The autopilot is activated, we swap positions and I go make up the tray up and.... voila it is time for a cuppa and chit chat.
As we approach our home port we are both recharged with the magic. We are stronger mentally and physically from all that comes from being in, with and sometimes against nature.
No matter how many times you set sail you never get the same experience and therefore more lessons learnt. There will be markers you can find and markers you can't see for looking. There will be things you sense without cause that end up being for a good reason. There will be no clock, date or calendar used, but will be a constant current, swell, breeze, sun, moon and tide awareness. Which in turn provides the euphoria you feel, which is the reason you keep coming back for more of the beauty (and the beasts).
Thank you Condesa, you have proven yet again your strength, power and security not to mention your undeniable beauty under sail to take us wherever the wind blows us. And I can sense you are built for more beyond the horizon too. 🧜🏽‍♀️🧜🏻‍♂️⛵️