Episode 25: Growing in confidence
Just as in 1925, the crew is shedding a good many preconceptions about the dangers of the open sea, aware that the greatest threat comes from its own mistakes.
In 2026, as planned, we are taking our time. Time to sail together, to settle into our roles and our manoeuvres, to build confidence in ourselves and in the crew - therfore growing confidence.
Dyna shared with us the ideas that feel foundational: stay humble before the elements; anticipate so as not to be caught out; dare to act.
Self-confidence surely goes hand in hand with knowing your own limits, without ever letting them close in on you.
It grows when we overcome challenges, when we can test our strength together. And under sail, there is always the unexpected. Sometimes it is the calm. Imagine having to reduce sail area (take a reef) when the wind is blowing hard. And sometimes it is the surprise, as when the anchor chain runs out straight down before our eyes with no way to stop it.
« This boat is a real gas factory », says Danielle. « It's like a house. You need a whole range of trades to keep it running, except that at sea, you're on your own ». Dyna adds: « Faced with a problem, you have to find a solution ». And our skipper always has one, drawing on her rich experience of life and of voyaging.
At sea, with the forces at play, with the attention we pay to one another, the coordination of well-rehearsed manoeuvres makes for solid confidence. That goodwill lets each of us make progress, discover what is possible, without being measured against a scale of values. And so we can live in the present moment, undisturbed by tension or conflict.
We complement one another and we organise ourselves around each woman's strengths. The tallest takes care of stowing the sail neatly into the lazy bag [1] on tiptoe; the one with no fear of the depths dives down to check the anchor is properly set in the sand, and so on. That too is mutual trust.
As Aline (newly christened Ponyo) sums it up: « I build my confidence through experience, and each one makes me stronger. »
Signed, the Bonitas
Sardinia, Italy, 13 September 2026
[1] The lazy bag is a kind of cover into which the mainsail is lowered more quickly and easily.
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