We were a Motor Boat
11 February 2011 | Hawke’s Nest Marina, Cat Island
Deborah
Feb 11,2011
We were a Motor Boat
"The sea is the same as it has been since before men ever went on it in boats." Ernest Hemingway
Our alarm was a fast ferry arriving at Half Moon Bay at 6PM to prepare for the arrival of a cruise ship from Holland America. Ed had already listened to a weather synopsis from Chris Parker, a weather guru. Ed said, "Here's our wake up call. Time to hoist the anchor to make way for the arrival of a cruise ship." I readied Ariel for departure.
Today we were a motor boat. The salted sails remained tucked into their bags while the motor propelled us through the water at 5.7kn. The wind attempted to impend our progress, driving at the bow of the boat, but the new engine roared in response. A friend in Brunswick, Captain Rudy explained to me that a sailboat is actually a boat, with tall sticks in the air that slowly motors everywhere. Ariel was that boat today for the first time. The forecast warned us that the wind would be on the nose but we had to reach our next port of call, Cat Island.
I feel like my life has temporarily become twined with the SV Ariel, directed by prevailing wind and wave action. My will belongs to the commands of Nature, wind and wave. My choices are not my own. My choices did not belong to my personal resources. I was a captive of wind and water. Sometimes the only choice was to surrender and become the observer of the direction to which I was headed.
The marina at Hawke's Nest, Cat Island is an oasis for weary sailors for a mere $2.50 a foot, plus add on electricity, water, laundry and internet. We will sincerely appreciate "On the Cove" this summer. Our friends, ThaiLyn and Peter from Pelican Rose caught up with us today. As our boats are secured to the dock, we study the weather contemplating our next trip to sea. Rum Cay is a ten hour trip in the Atlantic Ocean. We await the word from the weather gods to abandon secure docks and sail out into the unknown.