and baby makes 6!

Marina

On Tueday Bill, Mia and I hit the road after dropping the boys off at school. The destination was Kemah, Texas and we had a list of boats to check out.

It turned out to be a gorgeous day, but very hot and humid.

We crawled around on several gorgeous boats, and we were in the cabin of a 36 foot dream when I heard the broker ask Bill if he had much sailing experience. Bill modestly replied, “A little” and the guy pressed, asking if he had ever owned a boat. Bill replied “A couple”. The broker went on to say that the boat we were on was alot of boat for someone to handle…yada yada yada….large boats required experience…yada yada….upkeep….yada yada…it’s a beautiful boat and at a super price..yada yada.

My mind had already flown to the time we were racing onboard a 42 foot boat in Galveston bay during one hell of a norther. Bill was working foredeck trying to bring in the spinnaker, and it was stuck 1/2 way and we could not get it down. For those out there who sail, you will understand what I am about to descibe. The wind was easliy hitting 35-40 knots. The spinnaker was stuck, and the boat had too much sail up. We were getting knocked down, broaching, and this huge boat was rounding up into the wind. I was on the very back, on highside, and when we would heel over, I could look down and see the keel of this very large yacht come up out of the water…..and it was a damn far drop to the surface of the bay from where I was sitting.

Bill was at the bow during all of this, trying to blow the spinnaker so that we wouldn’t “pole” (spinnaker pole being burried into the water while you are flying with the wind) the boat and end up flipping stern over bow….all 42 feet of her. When we would broach, Bill would disappear behind the jib (had raised it partially in preparation to drop the spinnaker), and all you could see were his fingers wrapped around the jib forestay. We kept broaching and rounding up, and I swear I never took my eyes off of Bill. Then his fingers disappeared and someone yelled “I think he’s gone over” and my heart stopped.

As we righted again, preparing for the next broach, I saw his fingers back around the forestay, and he came out from behind the jib and crawled along the foredeck to retrieve a knife from someone to cut the damn spinnaker down. He cut the line, and we all watched as thousands of dollars worth of sail flew behind us and disappeared into the bay. Bill then guided the jib up and came back to the cockpit of the boat.

This was by far one of the most frightening days on a boat that I can remember. Bill thought it was a total blast. I did not think it was such a blast. The love of sailing came easy to Bill. He was a natural at it. For me, sailing was something that I did with Bill. The love for it took time to grow for me.

Bill has crewed on boats of every shape and size. He has raced across the Gulf of Mexico to Vera Cruz and has owned both a racing and deep water cruiser. I have watched him crawl around on the foredeck of tiny boats and monster boats, never losing his grip or his nerve.

Yeah, he has some experience. 36 ft is one hell of alot of boat, but he could handle it. It is myself that I am doubtful of. It takes a ton of strength to get the sails up on a boat that size. When considering a boat purchase, you have to think about the worst position you could find youselves in, and decide if you could handle it.

Could we handle being out on the Gulf of Mexico if a big squall came up? If the waves were 16 feet, and the wind was blowing 40 knots, could I get those sails up and down while Bill surfed the big ass boat through the peaks and troughs? It has happened before to unsuspecting boaters during the Harvest moon Regatta of 2002. We have raced that race, and I am very glad we weren’t there for 2002.

We asked each other this question on the drive home, and the answer is a resounding “No”. Who would stay below with the kids? Who would keep them safe while I was on deck hoisting sails and helping Bill? We both agreed that one of the smaller boats we are considering would be a much better match for us. They are big enough to gunk hole around the bay and islands, and maybe eventually cruising into the carribean.

One thing I know. I want this boat as much as he does. As I was standing on the docks looking over the marina, I could hear the wind whistling though the riggings and I turned to Bill and said “Do you hear that?” He turned his head and said “What?” and I replied “The wind in the riggings…it’s like coming home”.