Life's Big Adventure: Summer of Sailing

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!!