Be The Jam

Well it came round all too quick to leave this beautiful paradise island. When leaving Mahé I couldn't get out of there fast enough, Praslan is a different story. This island has changed all my views of the Seychelles in just a couple of days. Completely different to Mahé, just the laid-backness is immediately obvious from the moment you arrive. Anyway it's onwards and upwards from now on, North!

Still within sight of Praslan we finally got the Aries (The wind Vain) up and running. After 5000 miles of sailing we're finally sailing of the Wind Vain!!! Now the wind vain is something of a mechanical genius. By having its wind vain feathered to the wind, using a series of mechanical movements through a series of racks, slides, levers and pivots, it transfers this movement to a tiller or paddle in the, water. This paddle then move’s from Port to Starboard (left to right) or back again, attached to two ropes that are sent back through a couple of blocks (pulleys) to the wheel (wrapped around the wheel), which in turn turns the wheel. Sounds complicated? Well it is. To set the boat on a course you have to point the vain into the wind, and then lock her into the steering drum. It has to be said the first time you let the Aries take over its a little worrying. Best described as; trusting a friend to catch you falling backwards into their arms, you're not sure they are going to catch you, because you can't see them. It's a weird sensation, but once your friend has caught you a dozen times you feel safe. So I suppose over the next few weeks in using the Aries we will get used to letting it take over. Beats sitting at the wheel for an 8hr shift – means more time for reading and cooking…

Enough!