The Challenge:

A friend asked if I had a few free days in July, to help deliver a 70’ sailing yacht, Casseopeia, from Sitka, AK, to its new home in Anacortes, WA. Of course I said, “Yes!” We made the trip in four days, working four-hour shifts (four on, four off). The scenery on the way was amazing, and it was my first experience on the water outside the greater Puget Sound. We saw Dahl Porpoises playing off our bow, a huge pod of orcas, and the water spouts and humps of a number of whales. At night, all around the boat was alive, and lit with a blue glow from the phosphorescence / bioluminescence in the water. It was a very surreal scene. The adventure continued with a blown-out spinnaker while surfing the boat downwind; and a small fire in the engine compartment that had all hands on deck around mid-night, scrambling for the life raft before the determination was made that it was safe to stay aboard. All in all the weather was perfect for the trip, and the problems that arose were handled expeditiously, without panic. It’s nice to be with experienced professionals when out on the open water.

The Reward:

The home stretch from Port Angeles to Anacortes was beautiful, with sunny skies, a steady following sea, and all hands on deck to celebrate the last few miles. The names of the beers weren’t important, just the memories made, and the friends who shared them. If asked again to take that road less travelled, my hand will be raised high, anticipating that next great adventure. I think there was a book once… If you give a sailor an adventure, he’ll most likely ask for another, and a beer to go with it. Prost!