She arrived to her new yacht club with knotted anticipation. Always a few nerves sailing with a new crew. One familiar face was guaranteed, “K”, the connection from the most special sailing school community. Per instructions from K, she sat at a table along the stone wall of the porch, aware of the group gathered by the fire pit 20 feet away. She was the only one carrying a PFD. Perhaps these folks were not here for the race after all.
Whisked by K off to the 33 ft Frers, she excitedly left terra firma and entered into the world of Peli, a boat filled with lines and blocks and large jib and spinnaker. Everyone knew their job and politely included her in small boats tasks of passing a couple lines.
The smell of gasoline signaled the beginning of movement. They left the dock unceremoniously and serenely to enter the basin of water in which they were to sail. Immediately when they turned head to wind, marine mammals surfaced… could it be??! The friendly animal of the sea, dolphins come to play. Their backs rose from the water, sweet triangles, small blowholes all around the boat. S he spotted them first and gleefully shared the news with the crew. Everyone on the boat expressed joy at seeing these playful creatures. They heralded an exhilarating ride ahead.
Off into the race Peli tore through the waves. A downwind start with spinnaker kite flying! Even the skipper noted how fast they were traveling. Was that a bit of unease in his voice? “Steady on the main.” “Rail meat, do your thing!” She sat as close to the edge of the windward side as possible and ducked her head under the life line. It was a good thing there were two other pieces of rail meat! They needed the weight against the wind’s inclination to topple the boat.
Faster and faster they continued on. A few tacks – scurry across, flat as a pancake so you don’t get your head knocked by the large boom. Three people struggled to make it across before the boat heeled and tried to throw one or two into the sea. She soon learned to cross in the cockpit and became useful to the spinnaker trimmer. It felt nice to be useful … it felt nice to have a more secure spot to sit when the boat tacked, aggressively dancing with the wind!
Aw, the glorious rhythm of the see, the ocean spray christening all above decks, including the skipper at the back! All were a part of the sea and all laughed as children in a rain storm.
The horn was blown as they crossed the finish line. “Whew! And we are done!” Exhausted and weary from the adventure, the crew began the putting away of sails and lines. But the skies had not joined in the fun of the night. Large stunning dark clouds rose into anvils. The sky could wait no longer. Down came enormous, cold raindrops, slanting toward the basin. Guarded only slightly by the lowered sail, she and L huddled close for warmth, even as they chuckled over the insanely frigid pelting. And then as they backed into their slip, the rain ceased as suddenly as it had begun.
What a thrilling first ride on Peli!
Life is Sailing 