I could tell something was up, Mom was in an organizing frenzy, putting away every loose thing she could find and yelling at dad - telling him if he did not stop taking things out she was going to lock him below with all of the un-stored projectiles for the entire passage! Poor Dad, he was just trying to finish all of the last minute odds and ends that never end on a boat.

We had finally received our long awaited spare boat part and Mom and Dad were excited to finally be leaving. Just when Mom and Dad thought it couldn't get any better the perfect weather window opened up - we would be leaving the next day.

"Oooh, oooh, look Lilly!" I had just spied Mom putting away a BUNCH of those delicious salmon and broth pouches. Mom only buys those when we go sailing for a long time to give Lilly if she starts feeling seasick and quits eating her food. Mom was explaining to Lilly and me that our passage was going to be 3-1/2 days and that we both might need a salmon treat. Well I don't know what 3-1/2 days is but I certainly understood I was going to get treats while we were sailing.

The Afternoon Before The Passage
Me: Wow that was a great passage, Grenada looks great - hey, wait you forgot to give me my treat.
Mom: Chloe that was only 3 hours not 3-1/2 days.
Me: Well, what's you point?
Mom: We still have a long way to go.
Me: Well, why did we stop then?
Mom: Because we don't want to arrive in Grenada after dark.
Me: Whatever, where's my treat?!?
Mom: Chloe we haven't even started the passage yet.
Me: Well it doesn't feel like that to me.

Passage - Day One
Me: Mom, are we there yet?
Mom: No
Me: Why?
Mom: Because we just aren't.
Me: Can I have my treat?
Mom: Did you eat your food today?
Me: Yes.
Mom: Then, nope you don't.
Me: That's not fair! Lilly got one!
Mom: Chloe, go take a nap - time will go quicker that way.
Me: Hrumph!

Passage - Day Two
Me: Mom ... Mom, are we there yet mom?
Mom: No
Me: Well how much longer?
Mom: 2-1/2 days.
Me: Why?
Mom: Because that is what it is.
Me: Can I have my treat now?
Mom: Have you eaten?
Me: NO, I'm too weak!
Mom: Oh good grief Chloe, could you be any more of a drama queen?!?
Me: I could try ... why does it have to be sooooo hard?!!
Mom: For heavens sake Chloe, sailing doesn't get much better than this! The skies are clear, no rain, calm seas, 15 knots of wind, and we are making 7-71/2 knots with less than 10-degrees of heel.
Me: Can I have my treat now?
Mom: Go take a nap Chloe.

Passage - Day Three
Me: Mom, why is the sail in the water?
Mom: Can we talk about this later, I'm a bit busy at the moment.
Me: Mom, it doesn't look like we are there yet I think you should have left the sail up.
Mom: Go take a nap Chloe.
Me: But what about my treat!?!
Mom: GO!!!

Passage - Day Four
Me: Mom Mom Mom Mom MOM!
Mom: What Chloe?
Me: Are we there yet?
Mom: Is the boat still moving?
Me: Yes.
Mom: Then what do you think?
Me: I'm a cat - what do you think I think!
Mom: (sigh ...)
Me: Well, are we there yet and what about my treat?
Mom: If I give you a treat will you stop asking 'are we there yet'?
Me: Maybe.
Mom: Go take a nap Chloe!

Postscript by Robyn: It appears Chloe took a bit of creative license when she conveyed her version of the story, she did in fact get a salmon and broth pouch everyday. The sail did go into the water but she was immediately dispatched into the cabin and the hatchboards were put in place. During the passage, Chloe did what Chloe does best - she slept for 22 of the 24 hours in the day!