The picture I have stuck in my head
this damp fall morning is of me sitting on the rail of TQ, wheel in
one hand, head leaning out as I studied the tell-tales. Our friend
Amy took the photo and captioned it A Woman's Place is at the
Helm. The breaking foam
in sparkling clear water behind me gives away the larger scene of a
sailboat, full canvas, and happy crew. We've had so many fun sailing
adventures this summer, each one a jewel captured in my mind. I have
not written about these yet, holding each one close, savoring it,
like a mouth-watering dessert I don't want to share, and don't want
to be gone from my plate.
 |
| A Woman's Place |
In past years our forays to the islands
were short, week-long vacations. Roy and I timidly explored, neither
of us new to sailing, but learning to navigate reef and rock strew
passes, plan our travels with the currents and manage a 36ft
sailboat. This summer we kept TQ in Deer Harbor, at quiet little
Cayou Quay marina for the entire season. We stretched our skills and
our destination horizon. I felt our confidence shift. Pole pass, so
narrow you can almost touch the rocks on either side, stopped making
our hearts thud in our throats. We easily navigated tide rips around
Spiden Island. When people gathered in their cockpits to watch "the
show" as we approached a mooring ball, our performance was
anti-climatic, boring even, with not a shout between us.
 |
| Roy and I NOT going back to the dock |
This year we had the pleasure of
sailing with many of our friends from the airplane community. Amy and
Rob, Tracy and Lisa, joined us for a blustery day sail up the west
side of Orcas Island. I thought Tracy would be all over taking the
helm, but to our surprise and delight, it was his wife, timid, petite
Lisa, who did not hesitate to take the wheel. A few short pointers,
and she had the rail nearly in the water. She had previously
professed to be uncomfortable on boats. It was hard to tell that from
the grin wrapped around her face.
 |
| Sunrise at Stuart Island |
Our pilot friend John flew up in his
Cessna with his cousin and 18 yr old son. Jacob was along because his
Dad MADE him. I have forced my 16yr old to endure such hardships, and
Jacobs demeanor was familiar to me. Roy and I have a rule I shared
with Jacob on our drive from the airport to the boat. "The point
is to have fun, and if we are not having fun, we go back to the dock.
No questions asked." I could see relief in his eyes – the
pressure was off. We had beautiful wind that day, just enough to make
our sail exciting. I invited Jacob to take the helm, and talked him
through the basics of sailing. When it was time to tack, I told him
he was in charge. What a delight to see his broad smile and eyes
light up, as he called "Ready About? Helms A-LEE!" We only
went back to the dock when it was getting late, and time to go home.
 |
| Kitty at the Helm |
Jan and Tuck were guests when my
racing-crew-mate, Kitty was my first mate for the weekend. The wind
was very light, with the occasional ripple across glassy emerald
water. It was a sleepy, tranquil day. We sailed a little, then
motored past the long finger of Spiden island, admiring the red,
knobby tree-lined shore and watching sea lions swim by. We took the
boat to Stuart Island, where we tied up to the linear moorage, and
went to shore for a hike. Jan shared with me later that she had never
been on a sailboat skippered by women, and it was a moving
experience. She said "Its always the men that are in charge, and
I always feel along for the ride. You both were calm and confident
and everything happened smoothly. You made me feel like I was part of
the crew. It was So Much Fun!"
 |
| Jan and Tuck |
Kitty and I ran the boat the same as
Roy and I – as a Team. TQ brings that out in us. We make decisions
together, and lordy knows we make mistakes together. We have laughed
out loud at our sailing fumbles, and cried during our attempts to
anchor. We have coached each other through navigation challenges, and
held hands as the setting sun turned the water a glowing red around
rocky, pine-studded islands. And never, ever have we gone back to the
dock because we weren't having fun.
Big Hugs and Much Thanks to all our
friends for an amazing summer of sailing!! Lets do it again next
year!!
 |
| Sierra and Pippa Stuart Is. |
 |
| Roy and I at Turn Point |
 |
| Sunset Reid Harbor, Stuart Island |
