A New Sailing Axiom
15 January 2014
ax·i·om\ˈak-sē-əm\
noun
: a rule or principal that many people accept as true
Full Definition
1 : a maxim widely accepted on its intrinsic merit
2 : a statement accepted as true as the basis for argument or inference : postulate 1
3 : an established rule or principle or a self-evident truth
Origin: Latin axioma, from Greek axiōma, literally, something worthy, from axioun to think worthy, from axios worth, worthy; akin to Greek agein to weigh, drive -- more at agent.
First use: 15th century
After helping Park bring his treasured Lee Shore from Savannah to St. Mary's we have discovered a new sailing axiom. IF you start a voyage with a pelican on board then turn around an return to port! If the pelican won't fly you should not sail. On our way out to the Atlantic Ocean this young fellow decided to hitch a ride. He was not shy about it at all and hade to be forcible removed before he left any bird byproduct. No wind in the ocean so a motor ride to St. Mary's. At about midnight we where approaching the shipping channel for Brunswick when a freighter appear to our port side and on a collision course. After several of our maneuvers failed to change this we decided to change course to 90 degrees port when a powerful thunderstorm hit with no warning. No wind to 41 knots of the starboard side, lighting lighting up the sky like a Fourth of July fireworks display, and rain so hard we had a whiteout. Thank God we did not have any sail up or it should have been worse. After about forty minutes of violent storm things clam down a bit but was raining and cold for the rest of the trip.
At about 5:00 am we where approaching the St. Mary's entrance when we where almost rundown by a shrimper. We decided that we would go up the St. Mary's river until we could find a anchoring spot to wait until it was light enough to get to Lang's Marina. We had been awake for 25 hours and we where wet, cold and tired, but safe.
Park will be staying here for about a month and we plan a lot of trips to local sites.