Guppy and I rushed through Torres Strait at 7,5 knots! There were reefs everywhere but I could hardly see anything because it was getting dark. But in the distance I could see the first island that I had to pass by. I ajusted my course so I would be sailing even closer to the wind, would this work? Guppy sliced right through the waves under Genoa and reefed mainsail.The Genoa had a hard time of it with its taped tears and holes- would it last through the night?…Rrrrrrippp! Without having to look I had my answer. Optimistically I grabbed my camera and as I was to take a photo the sail ripped further apart. I rolled in the Genoa and rolled out the storm-jib and so I kept sailing very close to the wind as we went between all the reefs. Our speed dropped a little but soon Guppy found her new rhythm and kept dashing forward at 6 knots. Like that we ran close hauled from island to island, from reef to reef and from light to light. Coming out of the darkness in the morning I saw islands all around me and the very light blue color of the water! That is because it was only 13 meters deep! I took out my old spare Genoa from the foresection locker. But then the shredded Genoa was all jammed in and would not roll out again. Well never mind I thought to myself and I hoisted the mizzen sail instead, and we kept going at a somewhat lower speed than our usual. But it didn’t matter really… I had cleared the Torres Strait! I could see the Australian coast and I was in a new Ocean. This made my head spin and with the little bit of energy I had left after 48 hours without sleep, I did a dance of joy and asked Guppy how she felt. JUST GREAT! She said. So now I will go to sleep… and it really doesn’t matter that the Genoa is all shredded to pieces, that the dishes are piled one meter high, that my bed is salty and wet,that the steering wheel is almost falling off, or that a juice pack is leaking in the cupboard… Tomorrow is another day…

Laura