Need an escape from the reality of the past weeks?
Think of the next few minutes as a mini-vacation amidst your busy holiday schedule and our current chaotic world while you vicariously sail away with Gary, my husband, and me.
We moved onto “SV Wand’rin Star,” a Hans Christian pilothouse motorsailer, with our cat, Murray, in 2003. We’d sold our home and most of our possessions in Michigan and began a new life on San Diego Bay. The following vignettes highlight some of our fondest memories and will hopefully provide you with a respite from the turbulent news of the day.
Eleven women on a boat
Shortly after moving onto SV Wand’rin Star, I read an article advertising a passage-making class just for women, which involved sailing a 65-foot sailboat, “Alaska Eagle,” nonstop from Honolulu to San Francisco. When I mentioned it to Gary, he said, “Why don’t you go?” I didn’t need any more encouragement and registered the next day!
The trip was incredible! We traveled 2,400 miles in fourteen days. I was the oldest person on the boat and had the least amount of sailing experience, but as the skipper commented, “the highest level of enthusiasm.” Fortunately I was one of only three who didn’t suffer from seasickness. This was true for the entire seven years we sailed … Gary and Murray weren’t as lucky!
The weather ranged from having no wind to 30-knot winds and 10-foot seas! It was awe-inspiring to look into the clear night sky, seeing thousands of stars and nothing else. I believe it takes a great egoist to think that we, on our small planet, are the only intelligent life in our vast universe. We sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay at 1 a.m. after thirteen days at sea. Gary was impressed with my new technical skills and knowledge; I learned that I could continue on, no matter how sore or tired I was. I think I talked to Gary nonstop for the next 24 hours (of course that was after I had 14 hours of sleep in a bed that wasn’t rolling!)
Call the Coast Guard!
While anchored at Santa Barbara, Calif., we learned a valuable lesson! As we were at anchor rather than in a marina, the only way to go ashore was to use the dinghy. We lowered it over the side, climbed down the ladder, motored to shore, and enjoyed a lovely dinner in town.
Returning after dark, Gary climbed up the boarding ladder onto the boat. At the same time a swell came in and lifted the ladder off the rail, and it sank (the ladder, not the boat!). We hadn’t tied it to the boat as we’d never dealt with swells before. The cruising life is definitely a “hands on” learning experience! I was now bouncing around in the dinghy with no way of climbing aboard. Needless to say I was concerned and a little frightened!
After a few minutes of me loudly demanding that Gary call the Coast Guard to bring us a ladder as well as threatening to take the dinghy back to shore and getting a hotel room, he made a harness and planned to “hoist” me aboard. I wasn’t thrilled with the prospect, but realized I didn’t have many options. After one false start — with me vehemently screaming “Stop that, put me down!” I was finally hoisted/dragged aboard — shaken, cold, ans frightened, but definitely glad to be on deck. Adding insult to injury, Gary proceeded to nimbly jump back into the dinghy to retrieve something and easily climbed out! The local marine store didn’t have a ladder in stock, so we spent three days in the harbor waiting for delivery. We always tethered it to the boat after that!
Cat overboard!
Gary was napping below and I was sitting in the cockpit when I was startled a loud splash. I heard a pitifully pathetic wail and saw Murray doing the “cat-paddle” to keep his head above water while looking petrified. I hollered for Gary and got the fishing net we had expressly bought for this purpose. After being unable to extend the handle while continuing to reassure Murray that we’d save him, Gary got the net in the water but couldn’t “land” the cat.
SV Wand’rin Star leaned to port (left); Murray had fallen over on the starboard (right) side and it was “just a little too far” for Gary to reach him. For some reason, Murray swam around the back of the boat to the other side where Gary was able to successfully grab him by the scruff of the neck and pull him on deck … scared, shaken, salty, and shivering!
We checked our “Cruising with Your Four-Footed Friends” book and quickly warmed water to rinse the salt out of his fur before cuddling and drying him. Needless to say, we were very glad to have him aboard, and he didn’t go on deck for three days!
Now, back to reality.
If you’d like to learn more about life on SV Wand’rin Star, our webpage has been archived.
Charming, Dorothy. You made your experiences come alive.