Ok I know I am going to sound batshit crazy but I have to explain what happened last night. I was sailing south off Sanibel in my ketch. 4 miles south of the island the Coast Guard was searching for some reported flare sighting in their helicopter and aluminum boat. I steered clear of them and when a bit further south decided I would say goodbye to Sailerman, I don't drink offshore but I poured him a shot of Sailor Jerrys rum and poured it over the side. Fair winds brother! Later on the windvane which steers the ketch quit responding to my adjustments, seemed sticky so sprayed all the moving parts with lube. No joy! So I harnessed up and hung over the transom to adjust the cables, no improvement, hard to do while moving anyway. The boat was steering fine by itself just a little off the course I wanted so I said screw it and enjoyed a really nice night offshore. In the morning I wanted to fish so I dropped my trolling lines over the side. In about 15 minutes I caught something on the line but it wasn't a fish! It was about a 24" in diameter memorial wreath! How does a boat sail itself 30 plus miles while resisting the owners course changes and land a fish lure in a 12" hole in a memorial wreath? Did someone drop wreaths in the water for Sailorman or is this an insane coincidence? I am anchored in Cape Romano now but when that wreath came up on the hook to say it was a shock would be an understatement. Actually I will leave it at that. All calm now. DWM
DWMs surreal night and scared shit less
(3 posts) (3 voices)-
Cat5
MemberI'd say that sounds crazy except for my experience.
I was sailing towards Cape Sable in a light wind enjoying the dawn and the peacefulness. I was thinking about how Sailorman would have loved to have been there in that moment. That he had risked his life and lost it to experience moments like this. Earlier, in Chokoloski, I had been tempted to drop out because of the risks, but in the end, I kept going because I had already known of and accepted the risks. His loss didn't change the risks I was facing.
I turned around to scan the horizon and startled to see a perfect rainbow rising from and ending in the sea. I broke down into tears. I'm not a spiritual person, but I'll swear that he was with me there. Well done Old Man.
Posted 11 months ago #
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