I'm still figuring out this blogging thing. Next on my list to tackle and conquer is how to attach photos individually with specific posts. I want to keep the photos that run down the side of my blog, but want to be able to add more photos, too.
That will have to wait for another day, though. Which means you'll have to wait to experience the amazing views I enjoyed today of the Downtown Seattle skyline. W-O-W, what a beautiful city I'm privileged to live near!
Today's sail was a new experience in several ways. New skipper (and his wife). New boat. New marina. Much bigger boat - big enough to cause most any sailor a feeling of boat envy. 42 feet! Two could live aboard quite comfortably... and only bump into each other every fifteen minutes or so instead of every other second. :P
Alan and Wendy were great hosts, very pleasant, welcoming, and sociable. They met through sailing and have been together for the closer side of ten years. I wonder if sailing is the only thing that brought and keeps them together, or do they have other compatibilities? They were good people. I would happily sail with them again.
Eight of us on board, though, is surely a different dynamic compared to just three. More than one conversation was generally happening at the same time, and thus I was forever trying to figure out which one to listen to or participate in. It's less intimate, to be sure. I do think I prefer a smaller group, especially with people I've connected with. But branching out and meeting new folks and getting new experiences is a great thing, too!
We sailed out of Shilshole Marina, which is near a much-beloved part of the Puget Sound region called Ballard. And also attached by proximity to the wonderful Golden Gardens Park. I have fond and varied memories of Golden Gardens Park. I've attended two weddings held in the Bathhouse there on the beach. Very simple affairs, while being the most beautiful weddings I've been privileged to witness. I've also attended an awkward 'singles' volleyball barbecue on that beach one time, several years ago. And also have stood on that same beach in the cold on a December evening near a bonfire reminiscent (to me) of "Burning Man" (not that I've ever been) and watched the lighted boats come in to the bay for the Lighted Boat Parade, complete with Christmas carols over loudspeaker. Golden Gardens holds a special fondness for me.
Anyway, a great thing about going out of Shilshole is that we were way close to another marina, Elliot Bay, which is just North of Downtown Seattle. We sailed down into the waters just off Downtown. That was waaaay cool! There were ferries coming and going. Giant cruise ships docked and, eventually, leaving port while we were out in shared waters with them. Incredible views of Downtown, plus (of course) the Space Needle, as well as other boats out sailing with us.
Bigger boat means bigger sails means faster sail speeds! We reached 7.5 knots, our top speed of the day as far as I know. That was while we were heading downwind, which means we didn't feel the wind speed near so much as when we were running into the wind. Heading upwind, while I was at the helm (the wheel on this boat was giNORmous, by the way!), I had to put on two extra layers of clothing in order to keep warm against the amount of wind I was feeling.
My top inspirational "OH MY GOSH I'M SAILING" moment today came when we were sailing off of Downtown Seattle and a large ferry passed us astern and I could see all the individual people standing at the back of the ferry looking down on us. It was a liberating -- as well as somewhat smug -- feeling, similar to being in the carpool lane and breezing past long lines of stopped traffic in the regular lanes. One of those times when you want to call out, "So long, suckers!" or something like that. One of those times you've experienced in your life where you've gone, "I wish I was THEM!" and then you realize, "Oh wait, today I AM!" :)
Today I was ON that 42 foot sailing yacht, crewing and pulling lines and steering at the helm. No more "Wish I could." I'm doing it. I'm LIVING it!
