I found it frustrating. Dave found it challenging. What follows is Sail of a Story.
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We had a plan to explore the BVI and the USVI but as with all things, plans are made in the sand and ready to be washed away with the incoming or outgoing tides.
Given some commitments coming up later in the month, we opted to head to the USVI for a few days. And then the winds of weather showed up, and our plans changed once again !! This time, they had us eyeing the SVI as the place to go.
"Looks like another Spinnaker Sail" said Dave rather excitedly, and with a hint of surprise in his voice, as he checked the weather and angles that would get us from Brewer's Bay (USVI) to Culebra (SVI).
"That's twice in two weeks, isn't it?" I said. Rather surprised myself. The Spinnaker is not something that one can often use in the habitual Caribbean tradewinds.
Given the bay was so calm, we got everything ready before weighing anchor. Having just recently used our A-Kite we found ourselves faster with its assembly, and before long the pretty colours of the chute had us sailing along at a speedy 6-7 knots.
Just when I thought we could settle into The Sail. You know, put my feet up. Stare at the horizon watching for whales or dolphins. Perhaps read a book? Play some Candy Crush. Clean below decks (UGH), or better yet, prep some dough for some Cinnamon Buns in the making (Mm-mmm) Good !!
Can you guess what happened?
The winds shifted. A bit in direction but mostly in velocity. It was getting rather onerous to keep the Chute trimmed & and beautifully ballooned.
Just as the perfect shape formed that would have me settle into the cushions of the cockpit, it all collapsed and a cajoling swear would escape the Capt'N's lips.
"Just like flying a Kite..." he muttered, on more than one occasion, as he frustratingly trimmed our way along.
It became a game of catch the wind and surf, trim, lose the wind (pop), ease, catch the wind, (pop), breathe, lose the wind, (pop)...
And so on, and so forth, for the three hours that it took to cover roughly 20 nautical miles. With both of us standing at attention, responding to the slightest flutter of the big kite, but mostly we did sail along between 6 and 7 knots, kind of zig-zagging our way to the buoys that mark the entrance into the harbour that is Ensenada Honda.
"Now, that... " said my Capt'N, "that was fun!" as I handed him an arrival beer.
"I don't think I'd quite call that fun" I replied, as we toasted ourselves and Banyan to another safe arrival.
"Why not?"
And that dear fans, friends and followers, remains a good question.
I think the Capt'N's point of view is that there's a satisfied type of adrenaline rush that results from challenge in responding to an ever-changing environment. The requirement to trim the lines as you play with the wind, or the waves, and with our Chute? The need to keep the pressure in the Balloon.
And for me, the end result was that I did enjoy the day, the sail, the speed. However, my adrenaline rush came from another place.. From an internal worry that the Spinnaker would pop with the next gust of wind. The kind of worry that change won't allow you to settle calmly into. And there wasn't much fun in that.
Either point of view, his or her's, male of female, an experienced Sailor vs a not-so-experienced but getting there Newbie, a Love to Race Racer, and me?
I'm not sure, but what I do know is that it was fun to be out there in the Big Blue Waters, playing about. I learned a few things, worried a bit, and next time the Chute comes out, I know I'll worry less.
And you know what? The only thing that was missing was the Cinnamon Buns with our Arrival Beers !!