Letting the dice roll
It felt good to see Capsula again. Our home, and more than that, our adventure companion. Seeing her made me realise how strong the bond has become. We have spent months at sea with her, put our life in her hands, felt excitement and frustration on her deck.
There she was, standing on her keel, beautiful as usual. She had not fallen from her stands, the hull was intact and her winter cover was still in place.
We spent the week getting her ready, from hull treatment to installing new solar panels for our trip in the remote Arctic waters. It is tiring work, but I enjoy it. You see the results immediately: a protected hull, panels wired, sails on. Your work has a clear purpose.
She will be launched on Thursday. I am thrilled, and worried.
Have I really thought this through, this decision to sail North again, to sail at all? or am I letting the dice roll without thinking?
There was no doubt in my mind when we went to Svalbard. I felt fear of course, but no hesitation. It was an adventure, bold but temporary. Now we are about to start a second year. This time it no longer feels like an experiment.
I hear it in people’s reactions when I share our new plans: “Another year? You must have liked it! But are you planning to go back to work?”.
I have been circling that question for months. It is not a lack of thinking. If anything, it is too much thinking. Of course we are going. Perhaps I’ll know once we’re underway.
