You might have noticed that adventures in Delvy have
currently been replaced with adventures on a big red yacht. We’ve swapped one
isolating lifestyle for another; a green landscape for blue. Living in a small space
on land and water has similarities, but there are plenty of differences. Knowing
how to sail is one of them!
Having spent a few years roaming the vast land of Australia
in our Toyota Coaster motorhome, life on the water kept beckoning, so we have
found ourselves a floating home once again. This sailing vessel is a little
different to our previous yacht, Lady Katherine. We are now the proud owners of a 71-foot Pacific Proa. What’s
that you ask? More on that later, but in the meantime let’s compare life on the
road with life on the water.
Space
At 71 feet (21.5 metres) the big red yacht (BRY) is a fair
bit larger than Delvy, including separate accommodation, so we can actually get
out of sight of each other. Plus, there’s more room for visitors if we so
choose. However, just because there is more room doesn’t mean it can be filled
up with stuff. Both forms of mobile living require minimalist habits. A boat
does require more things to operate safely, but the lighter it weighs the
better it performs. Could be said about us humans too!
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| At 7 x 2 metres, Delvy is a minimalist lifestyle at its best |
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| At 21.5 x 11 metres there is a little more living space on the big red yacht but life is simple |
Nature
Sunrises and sunsets are always a prominent daily feature but more obvious on the water being level with the horizon. Away from light pollution the stars are countless and bright; it makes better viewing of shooting stars, meteor showers, and other planets, and when undergoing an ocean night passage with a full moon there are fewer things more wondrous. Some lunar light also helps reduce the risk of collision with a whale or a stray shipping container, but the risk is remote compared to driving along National Highway 1.
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Living on the water provides ample opportunities to see dolphins, turtles, and even whales during the season. To get a land-based wildlife fix is usually only a short dinghy ride to shore once anchored up somewhere. Whichever way we travel though, the one constant is birds, and sometimes butterflies, even when we are far off shore. A gentle reminder that we are not alone.
Housekeeping
It’s easy to pull up at a supermarket in Delvy to stock up,
and if we forget anything, well, we can pick it up in the next town. Not so on
a boat. Storage, refrigeration and freezer space is at premium on both which
calls for some careful menu planning.
Frugality with fresh water is a must but it’s easier to fill
up when on land. BRY is so big it will never go into a marina or to a public
jetty so water is transferred by jerry cans (3 x 20 litres) or we capture it
from the sky through the rain catchment system off the bridge deck cabin roof.
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| Fresh water, vegetable oil, and black water is stored in the small hull (ama) |
Black and grey water storage and treatment is mandatory for both forms of transport, and needs to be deposited in appropriate allocated areas when the receptable is full. We have pretty much visited most of the dump points listed in the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia handbook - one could make it a lifetime project to visit every single one, along the lines of, “I’ve been everywhere, man”.
Weather
On a boat one’s life is constantly dictated by the weather:
breeze strength and direction, tidal times, depths and current; and if on
anchor we need to always be alert. As I write, it is currently blowing 30 knots
WSW – not the ideal anchorage for this wind direction - but this time we are on
a mooring. Not so lucky for the boat that has dragged anchor and just gone
aground. The constant movement and noises of a boat in a blow can be stressful
and not conducive to a good night’s sleep. But when it is calm, it is bliss. As
for Delvy, she doesn’t have any of those concerns except maybe not park under a
big tree in a storm, and avoid driving in inclement weather.
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| It's not always this calm on the water |
Exercise
Living on a yacht is physically demanding; the body is
always moving, and there is always some job to do that is essential for the
vessel’s seaworthines. And the bigger the yacht the longer the job list. There
is far less time for book reading than in the motorhome. It’s easy to step out
and go for a walk or a bike ride when on land, but on a boat any land activity
has to be planned according to weather and dinghy access (or ability to swim
ashore!). While I miss my regular bike
rides and daily walks, the fresh sea is cleansing and energising and keeps hay
fever away.
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| Going up the 22 metre mast is not for the faint hearted |
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| Unload the bikes off the back of Delvy and away we go |
Seamanship
Seamanship is the fundamental difference between motorhome
and boat and it accounts for everything on water. While you need to be able to capably
drive a heavy vehicle, the road rules are easier to follow on land. At sea
prudent decisions are made with a variety of factors at play, and one must have
the ability to carry them out. There’s no pressing the big red button to stop
and get off when a situation becomes challenging on the water: one must see it
out to the end, and only good seamanship will contribute to a favourable
outcome.
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| Planning and preparation is essential for any on water activity |
So, which is best, life on land or life on the sea? Alternating between the two is ideal for me. I’m not a ships master but I can drive the motorhome. My husband can do both. Living at sea challenges all aspects of a person’s skill and resolve, at the same time provides experiences like nothing else. As the saying goes, if it was easy, then everyone would do it. However, at times it’s nice to take a break; to stop the world for a moment, pull out my camp chair from Delvy and just have a quiet and still sit and listen to the birds. 😀🐦
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| Relaxing with a good book |
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