A day in the life aboard Evolene!

The next travel blog update will cover reaching our northernmost point for these travels, which will either be Stø or Andenes in Vesterålen, weather dependent, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to describe what a 'typical' day for of us aboard entails.  I say 'typical' - each day is so incredibly varied - but I'm hoping the following gives you a flavour as to what we get up to in more detail!

Usually we will start to stir about 7ish.  Despite the midnight sun up here in the Arctic circle, we are largely managing to maintain our sleep routines and, I think, are settling more to the temperature changes that comes with the sun lowering towards the end of the evening and strengthening once more in the morning.  Whilst we have small windows in our aft cabin and (handmade!) curtains to draw if needed, we rarely do - only if beside a pontoon with passing human traffic or rafted to another boat.

We then take it in turns to make 'first tea' and then 'second tea', taking about half an hour to enjoy each, and using this time to catch up with ongoing events in the wider world, through news and social media feeds, and refining plans for the day ahead - which largely involves checking the weather forecast and making it sure it hasn't changed significantly from the previous evening.  

At about 8, we start getting up and gauge the temperature outdoors (combined with the weather forecast) to determine how many layers to wear and what degree of water and windproofs are required.  We will also usually put on sunscreen, even if overcast, as we will invariably be spending most of the day outside and the reflection from the sun on the water adds to the UV exposure.

'Windy' is one tool we use for weather planning

I will then start to preparing breakfast and surprisingly I have really come to enjoy this bit of the day and revel in the luxury that, usually, we have time to eat a breakfast that can be a change from the 'norm' of cereal that we used to eat day in, day out, when working.  The variety of options that I tend to cycle through (depending on food stores and what is going out-of-date) includes: american pancakes (with yoghurt/maple syrup/butter/bananas); scrambled eggs (with mushrooms/frankfurters/chorizo and bread/tortillas); breakfast burritos; yoghurt and fruit; porridge; bacon rolls; and, yes, sometimes cereal (usually muesli with granola and banana on top) especially if we are wanting to get on the move more quickly.

Whilst I'm preparing breakfast, Stuart is usually finessing the route and entering it into the chart plotter for us to follow when underway.  

Route planning on the chartplotter

If we have hot water (usually when connected to shore power) I'll wash the dishes following breakfast but if not, I will wait until we're underway (as we'll run the engine to raise the anchor or exit the harbour and it will heat the water sufficiently) or boil the kettle (if likely to be lumpier out!).

Then we both prepare Evolene for departure.  This involves checking all the hatches (windows) are securely shut, all the cupboards and drawers are closed and secure, and anything that is liable to move is either stowed away or securely fastened down (for example our lamps and faux fern in the saloon area are secured with velcro).  We also have to remember to close the 'sea cock' (drainage outlet) for the sink in the aft heads (toilet at the back of the boat) if we are likely to be on a starboard tack, because if we are tending to lean over, we will get a small amount of sea water coming back up the sink drainage if this is not closed.  (I say small to reassure that in no way is this dangerous and will definitely not sink the boat!  But it can create a small puddle in the aft heads and we have had wet salted towels on occasion previously as a result of not shutting it!)

Boat prepared, it's then time to switch on the instruments including the bow thruster, anchor winch, navigation instruments, VHF radio, and the ignition for the engine.  If we are berthed alongside a pontoon, Stuart and I will then have a quick conflab to make sure we both know what his planned manoeuvres will be to take the boat off the pontoon, and then rig the lines (ropes) accordingly so that we can do it all from the boat and they will literally 'slip' off the cleats when we release one end from the boat (making sure we still have the other end secured so that we can pull them in and coil to stow them away for the passage).

Using a 'backspring' to leave the dock

If we are at anchor, I will usually go up to the windlass (anchor winch) and operate this from the bow, first taking off the snubber (essentially a line with a rubber shock absorber that is secured from the chain to a cleat on the boat and therefore removes direct force going through the windlass whilst at anchor and potentially damaging it), and then raising the rest of the chain and finally the anchor itself.  Whilst we could do this from the cockpit area (aside from removing the snubber), by doing it from the bow we can also clear the chain and anchor from any seaweed as it is raised, and more accurately gauge what length of chain is still outstanding.  Plus I actually find it surprisingly satisfying and fun to do!

And that's it, we're then ready for sailing!  By looking at our planned course on the chart plotter and informed by the instruments to determine wind speed and direction, we will set the sails accordingly.  If the wind is strong or liable to be gusty, we may choose to sail with a reduced sail area (to have the sails 'reefed'), but most of the time we sail with full canvas.  If the course is the same direction for the whole journey and the wind doesn't alter strength or direction, then that may be all that we do with the sails but usually we will need to 'trim' them at some point (adjust their angle relative to the wind by bringing in or letting out the attached 'sheets' (another fancy word for rope!)) and especially if we change course.

At all times we will have at least one of us 'keeping watch' - looking out for passing traffic, any unexpected objects in the waters (e.g. fishing buoys), making sure the autopilot is maintaining the appropriate course, and monitoring the radio traffic - and we do this in a fairly ad hoc way for short day trips but through always letting the other person know if they are not going to be paying attention for any reason e.g. going down below to make tea!

Sustenance underway

Talking of which, on all but the lumpiest journeys, we can usually make tea, snacks and meals pretty easily underway.  I've also been known to make scones quite effectively and efficiently on the move.  And that is largely how we spend the sailing part of the day - keeping an eye on the boat and our surroundings, watching the beautiful scenery pass by, tweaking the sails and course as needed, and keeping ourselves fed and watered.  Oh, and invariably checking the weather a couple more times during the day, especially as we start to think where we might go the following days, and checking Marine Traffic far too often than we need to, to see where friends and fellow boats that we have connected with previously are off to!

Usually we will reach our resting place for the night in the mid-afternoon and essentially the reverse of the above is enacted.  If berthing alongside a pontoon, we will ready the fenders and the lines and Stuart will brief me on his plans for docking, and if anchoring I will go up to the bow and ready the anchor for release and get the snubber ready for attaching.  

Once secured for the evening, we will then relax into the afternoon and evening.  If alongside and electricity is available, we will attach Evolene to shore power (with the advantage of unlimited hot water and shore electricity for cooking and heating if needed) but in reality this is not essential and we will quite happily manage with the capacity in Evolene's batteries if needed.

If on a pontoon we will tend to go for a walk/hike/scramble(!) and explore our surrounding areas a bit.  If at anchor we do the water-based equivalent - explore by dinghy or kayak instead!

We will enjoy refreshments and nibbles towards the end of the afternoon, catch up with boat 'admin' (jobs such as any tidying or cleaning required, minor maintenance, writing our logbooks and this blog) and then think about making dinner.  Again, this can be incredibly varied.  We have a 'larder' stocked with all the staples (pasta, cous cous, rice, noodles, variety of spices, cans of tomatoes, beans, sweetcorn etc) and whilst we don't have a freezer, our fridge is very capacious and can easily carry enough provisions for us for two or three weeks with little thought and plenty of space still for refreshments!

If we need showers, we can either do this ashore if the marina has facilities or onboard.  If we are not connected to shore power and would like a shower on board, we will hold off doing the washing up until we've had our showers but that's the only, very minor, 'inconvenience' from not having unlimited hot water!

That probably takes us to about 8pm and then it's time to relax with some television/Youtube watching through the laptop, courtesy (regrettably but very effectively) through Starlink.  A couple of hours or so later and with the sun still high in the sky we say goodbye to another beautiful day aboard and start getting ready for bed, full of excitement for whatever the next day ahead may bring!