What can I say about Bonifacio which hasn’t been said before in some tourist brochure or another? Probably nothing, so let me tell you about Bonifacio today, 11/11/11.
On board I have Miriam. Have I told you about Mirian? 22 years old, an American who first sailed with me early last year as a member of an American/Canandian group of uni students who were quickly christened ‘The Happy Honkers’. Miriam is a ‘dreaded’ rebel, her recent adventures include salmon fishing in Alaska, trips to South Korea and Mongolia, and a nightmare trip on the Trans-Siberian Railway. But will she ever grow up? I doubt it. She is a fellow Leo, and Leos don’t grow old gracefully by conforming. (Some even refuse to grow old!) For a month we sailed together. Mostly in harmony but sometimes verbally fighting to a point neither of us really wanted. What is it about many of us (Leos) who say things to hurt, when all we want is the love that we long to give? It got me thinking about something I wrote some years ago when sailing the west coast of Corsica alone on ‘Nivram’
(Somewhere off the coast of Corsica, May 2005, and written for my daughter).
Nivram is nodding gently in a wind barely strong enough to keep 'Lizzie' my Monitor self steering working, but, no matter, I am heading in the right direction. To port and ahead the rugged coastline of Corsica with its towering mountains. I am surprised that even this far south and this late in Spring there is still snow lying in some valleys on the mountainside. It is not exactly warm and I have my sailing jacket on and jeans. Oh will I never get a sun tan?
At times like this, with the boat doing a rather sedate rate I find my thoughts are equally sedate. At other times when she is positively flying my thoughts are equally rapid as if my brain is in tune to the speed of the boat. Then I want music that is loud and stirring. I haven't got 'Ride of the Valkyries' but that is the sort of music that fits Nivram when she is flying. I wonder if it is adrenalin induced thought?
Today I need something pastoral and I have hunted through my cassettes and found a Joan Baez tape. It is playing loud enough for me to hear it in the cockpit and I am sitting in the cockpit with a half finished mug of tea and my log book. There is rain in the air and parts of the mountains are covered by rain clouds blown in from the west. To starboard there is a rainbow and it got me thinking about a theory I formulated some years ago when I was running SheMailOLM.
Now a rainbow is a beautiful mixture of nature and science. Or is science simply man's inadequate explanation for nature’s wonders? Experts will tell you that a rainbow is caused by the refraction of light through raindrops in the air. The droplets act as prisms and the colours are created by white light passing through them at different speeds due to wave lengths and being refracted at different angles. Well, that is the scientific explanation, and pretty boring stuff it is. I much prefer to see a rainbow and wonder at its perfection and its shape. And when it comes to the legends and beliefs behind rainbow it can be a far more interesting read. It appears that the legends and beliefs surrounding rainbows are unique to one's cultural history but then migrate to other countries with time. The pots of gold that some believe can be found at the ends of a rainbow originated in Silesia in Eastern Europe. They believe that the angels put the gold there and that only a nude man can find them. Scientists tell you it is impossible to go under a rainbow's arch, yet there is an old European belief that anyone who does manage it will be transformed from man into woman or woman into man. Quite a few cultures believe the rainbow is a bridge between heaven and earth. Some cultures even give importance to the colours. To Iranian Moslems, a prominent green means abundance, red means war and yellow brings death. The Arawak Indians of South America recognise the rainbow as a sign of fortune if seen over the ocean, whereas the people of northeast Siberia see it as the tongue of the sun, while some North American Indians see it as a bridge between the living and the dead.
And now you can add to those beliefs and legends your old Dad's Rainbow Theory, but for this theory you have to remember one important scientific fact. No two people have ever seen the same rainbow, for even a person standing next to you will not be observing exactly the same rainbow. Oh, it will be a rainbow in the same area but not exactly the same, and to them some of the colours may be stronger or more delicate than they are to you. I believe that a rainbow is the symbolic link between two people, and should you stand side by side or even hand in hand with someone special in your life the rainbow represents the link between the two of you. This other person could be a friend, it could be a lover, or it could be that special person who is both your best friend and your only lover.
Each legendary pot of gold represent what each has to give to that relationship, but there are problems because not all pots of gold are the same shape or size. Some people have huge unlimitless pots with large necks from where the gold will flow through the rainbow replenishing the pot at the other side until it can either overflow or will have to grow in size to contain what it receives. But others have smaller pots with narrow necks from where the gold may flow in smaller or inadequate quantities. The important thing in any relationship is to keep the gold flowing and never to let either pot run empty, for when you have nothing left to give then the rainbow will fade and the relationship will end.
Oh, okay, lets be practical. A rainbow is not a tangible thing and there are no pots of gold. But there again, the link between two people is not a tangible thing, and if you substitute happiness and feelings for gold then maybe my theory is not so half baked. Take two people who find there is a 'something' that attracts them to each other. The 'X' Factor, the Buzz, the Spark or simply REAL friendship. Call it what you will. People far cleverer than me have tried and failed to quantify or describe it, but you know what I mean. These two people are happy in each other's company. These two people are even happy when apart but thinking of each other. That is what this gold is, it is those feelings that each has for the other and represents what we have to give. And as the relationship grows so does the brightness of your own personal rainbow. The hardest thing is keeping that gold or happiness flowing. When together it can be by positive and unexpected word or gesture. But when apart thought is not enough. It is at such times that you need to make the effort to remind that other person of your thoughts, and in this day and age we have all the technology at our disposal. A text message, an email, even the dreaded FaceBook, a phone call or a letter, all give you connection with that other one, and the receipt of such will remind you of their feelings for you. So that is why I wrote this log entry, daughter, dear. It is just to remind you of my love for you, and next time you stand hand in hand with that someone special squeeze his hand and tell him of my theory. But next time you see a rainbow alone, think of it as the undying link between you and me.
28th November.Miriam has left and returned to her family fold in the USA. Don’t forget, Miriam, count to ten occasionally, especially before replying to those who love you. (I will if you will.)But this entry is not just for Miriam, even though she is egotistical enough to think it might be.For you, Sarah. Hope you find more reasons to smile in the future.
For you, Perinne. Don’t worry about Simon and his crazy adventures. He will survive, for he is one of the world’s adventurers, another Bernard Moitessier but on a smaller boat.
For you, Ros. You were part of a perfect day that ended with deep drink distorted discussions in a deafening disco. I know you are happy with your life, but may you find that lover who is also your friend.
For you, Philippa. May you one day find a waiter who does not snore.
For you, Rebecca and Eulalia. You are both crazy and lovely! You made me smile so much. Will you both marry me?
For you, Mairi, for sharing that memorable night sail from Bonifacio. We made it! That passage still stands out in my memory as one of my finest. You were brilliant on the helm.
For you, Gaelle. I’m sorry we have made such a mess of this world, but if you have anything to do with putting wrongs right, then I know it is in good hands
For you, Ruth. Will you ever learn that there is more to life than the stress of a high pressure job, and that sea sickness can be dealt with for the sake of happiness? Do you remember that passage from Sicily?
Oh hell, this entry is for all of you who have sailed with me (well at least those of the fairer sex). Each and every one of you has made an impression on my life, and for that I thank you.But finally, this is also for someone who has never sailed on ‘Lady H’. The lady whose name my boat carries with pride. You taught me so much about love and life.
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