Yep, we left. On Tuesday, at 3 PM, we slipped our docklines and headed out. Destination: West Palm Beach. Why West Palm, you ask? Is it the sparkling waters? The sandy beaches? Nope. It’s because from there, we can get to the Bahamas with, hopefully, minimal drama.
To say, the voyage was an adventure is understating it. In the past, we have gone for day sails, returning to dock in the evening, or anchoring out at night and sailing again the next day. This was not that. This was a straight run of 267 nautical miles with no stopping. Now, some of you are saying “Well, 267 miles is no big deal! That’s like 4 hours in may car!” And that’s true. Now imagine that your car is a convertible, without heat, with a top speed of 10 mph, in which things keep breaking but you can’t stop. And did I mention you CANNOT GET OUT OF THE CAR!!!!” That’s what this was.
For starters, if you are imagining us lounging in the cockpit as the wind gently wafts us along, allow me to disabuse you of this notion. For sailors, the wind rarely cooperates. Usually, there is either too much, not enough, or it’s blowing from the wrong direction. Or all of those. That was us. We motored. A lot. We had the motor (that nice, bright, shiny, new motor!) on for probably 85% of the journey. Sometimes the sails were up as well, with the motor as an assist, but often it as just the engine. Second, it was cold. Especially at night. Because we are outside. It’s the North Atlantic Ocean, people! It’s cold! Third, try sleeping. As I write this, I have had 3 hours of sleep in the last 60. Same for Kim. Also, we haven’t showered, but fortunately for you, blogs can’t smell. Boats are noisy. Engine or no engine, there is a lot noise. Engine noise, prop shaft noise, the “wind in the rigging” (sounds romantic, right? Not so much-it involves slapping and banging. And then there is the need to make sail adjustments, sometimes at 3 AM. Rig the whisker pole. De-rig the whisker pole. Put the sails up. Take the sails down. It’s a lot. And at 3 AM, in the cold, when the boat is rolling and we are tired, going up to the deck to work is, shall we say, trepidatious (is that a word? I’m so tired.) Finally, there is the fact that we’re noobs. Not only have we never done this before, we’ve never done anything remotely like this before. Kim and I, alone, in the ocean, in the dark, on a boat. Who could sleep?!
Anyway, we made it. And even though we’re exhausted, we feel pretty darn proud of ourselves. We managed to work together, solve problems, support each other, and get this first big step done. Was it enjoyable? No, not all of it. But some of it was super cool. We saw two rocket launches from Cape Canaveral: one during the day and one at night. And we made some new friends. A family on a sailing catamaran left Brunswick with us and we buddy boated to West Palm. A little hand-holding via radio was very reassuring. Thanks Jason and Ashley! And the last day was amazing. At about 6:30 AM, the wind shifted direction and picked up intensity and for 7 glorious hours, the engine was off and we were rocketing along. With the right wind, Meraviglia is a racehorse. It was super fun. THAT is what sailing is. And if we can only get that 10% of the time? We’ll take it!
Wow. That’s awesome. Thank you so much for letting us now how it went. I’ve been wondering all day how it was going Thought several times about send you a message but decided not. Thought you probably would be too busy. Ha. Ha. I had no idea just how busy you were. Hope you have much more fun than 10% of the time.
Thanks! We do too!
CONGRATULATIONS and continued successful sailing!!!!
Thanks!
We got exhausted just reading what you went through. But, the important thing is – you made it there safely. Yes, you two are amazing and we are proud of you. Well deserved. Much love, Uncle Van and Aunt Betsy 🫶🏻❤️⛵️
Thanks! BTW, those Maumee Bay mugs are GREAT on passage.
Congratulations, that’s quite a Valentine’s Day date! In that sprit, I want to point out that “slapping,” “banging,” “rigging the whisker pole,” and “taking down the sails” could all have a romantic slant in the right context. (God, I hope there are no children reading your blog…)
Have fun, but let’s be careful out there, as Sgt Esterhauz used to say on Hill Street Blues!
That made our morning! Thanks! Hah!
Congratulations!!! You done good!!! I continue to keep you both in my prayers for safe travel. (Once a St. Matthew’s prayer warrior always one—now St. Paul’s). I so enjoy reading your posts. Peter and his wife own a Thistle and a Seascape 24 which they race. They are teaching their 3 year old daughter to sail and she’s a natural. Our d-i-l started sailing at that age on Long Island Sound. Keep up the good work and God speed.
Start -em young!
Can’t imagine sailing all night in the ocean! You pulled a double Cowley! The SpaceX launches would have been really cool. Hope I can see one some day. Glad you’re on your way! Rest up before heading to the Bahamas!
Rest and fix stuff!
I’d say that qualifies as a good start. Get some rest when you can.
12 hours last night-it was glorious
Way to go! What hard work to get to this place. I look forward to continuing to follow your adventures! Congratulations on getting to West Palm and a big milestone in your sailing life!
Thanks, Jodi!
Wahooooooo!!!!!! I know that feeling…the motoring (so much more motoring), the cold, the lack of sleep, and best of all: the feeling of dropping anchor and arriving. All that hard work culminates into that beautiful moment where you can be still and appreciate that you just moved your home, that goes 10mph max, 267nm. Hell yeah you did that!!! Giving you the biggest high fives!!!
Thanks!!