RIM Nativa, Gulf of Davao, Friday, October 24 9:22 PM A million stars punctuated the blazing Milky Way during this dark night of October on our crossing of the Gulf, bearing due north with a moderate wind of 14 knots under full sail. Nativa, white wings spread brilliantly against the ink-blackness, her hull heeled slightly with the ease of a mother rocking her baby child, coursed her way through the night with amazing nimbleness for a vessel of such size. It is very certain that her design is good and shes sea kindly. There are some nights at sea that are simply impossible to spend with closed eyes in a rack below decks and this was such a night. But standing watch at the bridge rail, two thunder heads were marked on the distant horizon, oddly adjacent to each other and knowing the topography of the island, that which divided them was the southwestern cordillera of Mindanao that extends all the way to the sea at the end of Sarangani Peninsula and originates at the lower slopes of our prime weather maker, Mount Apo. It was certain the gentle winds that drew us onward toward the storms would feed us into such violence that Nativa would want for less sail in the air. With lead time on hand, we struck her outer fore and lashed it to the sprit. Then we lowered her main and lashed it as well, leaving her inner fore and mizzen to do the work as long as possible and so we made way. It is interesting how human eyes adjust to darkness when there are no lights around and one can see the waters surface on the near horizon change even in the blackness of night. The careful observer will note the ripples of the sea closer to a squall forming a nervous black line as waves distant and peaking pull at the connected waters like tissue being stretched. It is upon crossing this black line that one must begin to prepare for what lies ahead and quickly, for the ripples rise into waves cresting and foaming and with winds quickening, the foam blows off the tops, frothing all the more until it rises again and is blown over and over along the disturbance created by the elements of wind and current. What had been for so many hours such a nice wind to carry us onward, was now turning, shifting opposite what it had been forcing us to now strike Nativas inner fore and mizzen and fire the big engine to keep our heading. Winds now on the nose steady at 39 knots and gusting to 56 knots, presented us with the challenge we knew would be good to prove, not only our nerve but also the ship crafted by our own hands. With eyes fixed on the horizon, sight made clear by flashes of lightning so frequent as to appear to be an uninterrupted light, and rain in angled sheets driven on such wind, the watch lifted up prayers to the Almighty. And for me, coffee in hand and a night-ride guaranteed to have few equals, this passage would be one to remember as it came at the end of work so noble that the world may never know its true merit. And reflections on days before and imaginations of days yet to come, created such excitement that it cannot be adequately told in a few words. It is amazing hours after the storm, with the vessel sailing at ease through the voyage nearing its end, to hear the ships company that had not stood watch, ask of the nights passage. It is then that one truly knows the nature of the vessel that has been built. She is comfortable. She is able. She is an ark of such important fashion. And the Good Lord is pleased. And...so, I am as well! God bless you all. I am praying for you! I will post again...
Posted on: Fri, 24 Oct 2014 14:41:52 +0000
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