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Life on the Ocean Waves - aboard Soren Larsen Pitcairn to the Marquesas .

A Voyage Crew's tale of life on watch as they sailed north into the tropics..

The magical little piece of paradise called Pitcairn is now a couple of days over the stern and everyone is readjusting back into the watches. The royal blue of the water surrounding Pitcairn has turned back into the amazing indigo of the deep ocean that we first encountered sailing from Easter Island. We “officially” cross into the tropics one night but you wouldn’t have known it – nasty squalls lash the ship and the temperature feels decidedly un-tropical. While I’m on the helm one particularly vicious squall slams into the ship, sending her reeling to starboard at a sharp angle and Steve is thrown across the poop deck ending up by the starboard rail.

The next day is a different world – bright sunshine, light winds with a few speckled clouds in the sky. At breakfast I spy Fred, a softly spoken sixty-something American, doing chin-ups outside the galley. A minute later I’m surprised as I look out again, only to see him still doing them! Our watch is tasked with attaching the t’gallant (highest square sail) back to the yard after it’s repair, so we gingerly make our way to the top most yard and Nate shows us how to tie on the sheet. Fred pops up here too, eager to be a part even though he’s not on our watch and not put off by balancing around on a footrope a long long way above the deck.

A couple of days later and its getting hot hot hot! We are becalmed for a few hours and the opportunity is used for a man overboard drill followed by a swim. The water is 28 degrees C (!) and the visibility is amazing. Looking down the water just disappears into an inky darkness and we find it hard to grasp its over 4000 meters to the bottom! Some of the crew set up a rope swing and we all have fun swinging on it and landing in the ocean. I’m surprised at the “technically” pensioners among us who put the youngsters to shame on it, Fred especially showing again what a surprise he is by doing some form of swallow dive off the end. A couple of days later we are all doing it again during our inter-watch “sports day”, the captain leads way on the swing (he’s a septuagenarian) showing another hint of the wily rascal that is usually hidden behind his professional demeanour. The 8-12 watch win the day, despite copious cheating by the 12-4 in the deciding tug of war, notably Ulrich trying to tallow the hands of the opposition and throwing a bucket of water at their feet, and Pete the anchorman wedging himself round the back of the wheelhouse.

We’re nearing the Marquesas islands now and all are getting excited. The sweepstake is down for when we arrive and birds are spotted, a sure sign we are near land. A 4- foot marlin or swordfish jumps by behind the stern today too, so we are also hoping for fish for dinner! Oh bring on the Polynesian dancing girls…

(thanks to Fiona,Martyn and Mike for allowing me the time to do this trip)

(p.s. Mrs Paul – please burn his hideous Speedos when he returns home!)

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This was recieved unsigned, but we rather like it - who would like to claim credit for it?!

Read Maritia's Marquesas Log here