Mal de Mer
03 November 2007 | Somewhere at Sea
Admiral Lori
It was an odd thing--or better described as odd timing. The Mal de Mer had struck. I, Lori, have been known to be prone to this affliction, but I thought I had past that point in the voyage. My sea legs being strong and steady would never succumb, or so I thought. I am not sure what brought the horrible sea sickness. It might have been the great sloshing side to side motion when we did a mini, ungraceful "hove to" configuration so Rick could pull on the large Dorado fish (beautiful thing it was), or it could have been the blood all over the cockpit (actually that wasn't bad, it was the smell of the blood that was not pleasant), or the fact that we had lost 50 gallons of fresh water because of a blown pressure tube (we have enough water to drink and wash dishes, but none for showers--it is getting warmer now and that smell might get me too). It was probably a combination of all three things. There is a possibility of 2 circumstances that happen to me when the Mal de Mer hits. I either get queasy and want to or do throw up and/or I get extraordinarily cranky. Unfortunately both happened. I took Dramamine but it was far too late. Last time this happened I wanted to sell the boat. This time I just wanted to get off. We were 6 miles off shore near dusk when I was ready to leave the boat--a little too far to swim. Later we would be 30 miles off shore so I had to think about it twice but each time I came to the same conclusion--stay on the boat. Hmph... Then I made the mistake of telling the boys that I did not know how to cook fresh Dorado. Rich said that he would cook. Not in MY galley! (Ironic isn't it?) I was kicked out of MY galley so I decided to drive for awhile. At this point we have 3 sails up--the main, the genoa, and the beautiful, unmistakable, wholey gorgeous Mizzen staysail. (Rich really likes the Mizzen staysail. Can you tell? I promise we will post pictures when able) Steering was tricky. Trying to keep the boat going on a tight course was difficult for me. I do not yet have the touch of "sailing by the sails". I still am a rookie and use the compass. The boys were trying to help me learn how to "sail the clock", using wind direction and what to watch for in the sails so I would know when to make a course correction. I was not in the mood to listen. Swimming, the now 12 miles to shore, was not looking so bad. I ate some Swedish potatoes and had some trail mix and my mood did not improve. I thought it would be the best for the crew that I put my cranky self to bed. I was finding is difficult to be quiet and not say anything (amazing for someone who is basically mute with the whooshing of sails and following seas in the background). I massaged my grouchy brain with thoughts of the next mornings breakfast that I was going to cook in MY galley: Bisquick biscuits, scrambled eggs with garlic and onion, and sausage patties. Aaahhh... sleep now..... I will try to update soon to let you know if I went swimming or not