28.12.08

ten degrees starboard.





What was supposed to be a two week sailing trip from Wilmington, North Cakalacky to Saint Martin turned into three weeks at sea with stops in The Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Puerto Rico. The purpose of the trip was to deliver a 38 Leopard Catamaran for a wealthy British fellow. It was rather arduous, but a great adventure.

THE UNPLEASANT: Not being home on Christmas Day. Trying to sleep when it sounds like your boat will tear apart at any second. Pounding into 15 foot seas for four days straight. Puking my guts out. Breaking every coffee cup on the boat. Cruise ships. Feeling completely wet, greasy, and salty and not being able to get dry because everything else is wet, greasy, and salty. Being completely exhausted simply from the never ending work of keeping yourself from falling over. Feeling really small.

THE ENJOYABLE: Catching 10 Mahi-Mahi. Getting paid to be on the water. Seeing some of the most beautiful water in the world. Putting a reef in the Main in 35 knots of wind. Seeing four new islands. Practicing my Spanish with pretty Puerto Rican girls. Diving for Conch. Fresh Conch salad. Lobster. Empanadas and Medalla's. Playing dominoes with the locals. Seeing every star in the sky. Feeling really small.


5 comments:

Kahana Kalama said...

Rad! What part of PR did you stop off at?

Eric Thomas said...

We sailed into Mayaguez, hung out in Rincon for a night (and didn't get to surf!) then sailed down to Ponce and spent Christmas there.

kim diggs said...

hi eric! that sounds like a lot of fun! im sorry you werent home for christmas but i hope it was still a good one for you! i havent gone rock climbing again since you left..bummer but im trying to go again. hope youre dong well!

davidmolnarBLOG.com said...

i just went climbing in san diego... thought about you a bunch. i want to move there. keep me posted.

Joanie + Ryan said...

sweeeeet. i live in wilmington. sign me up for a gig like that.