Getting Better 03/17/13

So we’re on our way home.  Funny how this all works, really.  Something about turning around sheds new light on our adventure and how we handle every day.  Somehow leaving Georgetown seems to have spurred a new wonder in us.  From our first day back at sea with the big waves and swells and fairly strong winds, we somehow are better at what we’re doing here.

You may not know this about us, but Rob and I are not sailors for the most part.  What I mean by that is that many to most of the people we meet out here have been sailing in some form for most of their lives.  Either they started on little sailfish as kids, grew up sailing in the Chesapeake, raced on sailboats . . . they have sailing incorporated into their BEING. 

Rob and I, on the other hand, are fairly new at this.  We both did sail sunfish as kids but only for a season or two.  We owned a couple of sailboats 20 years ago over a period of a couple of years but were so busy working that we really didn’t spend much time in the act of sailing them. 

This current adventure for us is kind of putting the dot on the end of the sentence.  When we sold our boat all those years ago, we had plans of replacing it with another and cruising.  Needless to say, that never happened.  So we’ve picked up where we left off and are finishing that chapter. 

Last year we really only sailed a couple of times.  Most of our days moving were accomplished with the motor.  Putting up the sails was a big deal and we seemed to get a lot of things wrong in the attempt.  But over the course of this year’s path, we’ve actually begun to understand the art.  If there’s any wind out there, we can find a way to use it . . . and it’s a wonderful thing!

Since Georgetown, we’ve managed to sail every leg of our journey so far.  We raise the mainsail at anchor and cut the engine as soon as we’re on course.  We’ve sailed at speeds of 2.1 to 6.5 knots and fall into the spell of it as soon as the engine is off.  We’re now actually learning the finer points of setting the sails and can gain speed with some small changes.

Along with finding comfort with our boat and its sails, we are enjoying every day with much more vigor than ever before.  Nature seems to provide the perfect playground for us and offers new treasures every day.  We have been going for great walks on islands, have found amazing snorkeling spots and wandered sand flats at low tide.  We’ve traveled with several different boats from day to day and are meeting great people along the way. 

This morning our dear friend, Rick, left the anchorage at first light to make his way back to the states.  Just after his departure we learned that our other buddies aboard Panta Rhei had decided to do exactly the same, taking advantage of a great weather window.  So we’re now moving along with Bill on Providence and a lovely family – Mark, Christine, Logan and Cole aboard Truansea.  (and, yes, there should definitely be a blog just on sailboat names!)

After an amazing and beautiful sail right into our anchorage for the night, we set out snorkeling and found some of the best coral formations and diversity of fish we’ve seen to date.  The current was too strong to take advantage of some of the better spots so they’re on the schedule for tomorrow.  We caught two lobsters which we grilled together tonight.  One of those babies was Rob’s first catch – yeah, Rob!!! 

For the time being, we’re not setting any agenda.  We’re moving from day to day wherever the chart shows something interesting to investigate and we’re not in any hurry to make any particular destination.  If this becomes tedious, I guess we’ll change the plan – maybe we’ll end up in Eleuthera after all!  But, for now, we are happy watching the sun rise and set, the tides come and go and feeling the breeze blow!  I think I’m finally understanding the addiction of the Bahamas!