Moving Forward
Exhilarated and intimidated you boat pushed off the dock in Palm Beach Florida. Our new destination: Miami. With our new captain only able to bring us to the harbor entrance, this crew was going to have to complete the next 24 hours alone. We all gave hugs to Ryan wishing him well in medical school and prayed we would see Captain Riggs three days from now in Miami. As our vessel forged ahead into open water the crew got a first hand taste of what 2-4 foot seas was like – a lot more up and down than one would have imagined. Sky and I took a horizontal position on opposite benches in the salon, while the boys laughed, ate food, and thankfully took the wheel.
Later that afternoon sky and I were able to take on navigation duties, but the thought of having to go below deck made us both green. As things around the boat periodically toppled over, one of us would soon be behind duct taping those things back in place…the meaning of “secured” was not entirely thought out for the galley! By nightfall all the crew had their feet under them and stomachs in check; the Miami skyline bringing smiles to all our faces.
When we neared the dock, all mind-sets switched over for action- we had to dock. And not just pull up, bump the side, and tie her off kind of dock, but rather, pull into a space against a tough current along side another multi million-dollar vessel kind of dock…this was going to be interesting. Twenty minutes later, Ben had the Southern Wind inched up and lines secured like a pro- we all gave a pat on the back for a job well done.
The next few days were spent doing minor repairs and changes, exploring Miami Port, and meeting new friends. Interestingly enough, only a few boats down the very same dock was a tall ship called Liberty. This boat is unique not only for its specific boat category, but also for the good deed preformed by their crew for some friends of ours (a non-profit we met in Palm Beach) just arriving back from their own Haiti mission.
The port of Miami would not allow Tranquility to dock for free, even just for a few hours, to load supplies for their Haiti mission. Tying up Tranquility, the Liberty tall ship jumped in to lend a gracious hand to use their boat as an in between. The crew of the Liberty helped pass along a large shipment of supplies and other donations across their ship, with the assistance of the boom, to the Tranquility. We met with Phil, his wife, and two kids over dinner and exchanged Haiti adventure stories. They shared with us eye opening pictures and video of their work in Haiti, and we took down any helpful advice for a safer, smoother trip for us. Their family is wonderful and each one of them caring around big hearts. They helped to cast off our lines as we sailed to another dock. I waved with a big smile hoping to see them again someday-hopefully soon.
Traveling deeper into the port of Miami, Ben had to dock our vessel again, but this time in a narrow channel outside an expensive hotel right between two mega yachts. With a crowd developing and the dock master running out to lend a hand Ben guided our boat like a champion. After all lines were tightly secured I wondered how were going to pull out of this spot; thank goodness that will be the job of Captain Riggs!
In the Miami financial district, I was able to acquire some much needed boat shoes, squeezed in a few runs around the park, and spent time rearranging my cabin. It was nice not to have to be up every night for watch and the crew replenished a quantity of essential sleep hours.
Captain Riggs showed up Wednesday night and we welcomed Lynn (a sailing journalist) to our crew. Everyone snuggled into bed at a reasonable hour because by 10am the next morning this boat was headed for Haiti. I made the last rounds of phone calls home to say my “good-bys” and “I love yous” to the parental units and sisters. Oddly enough I was settled into the idea of not having a cell phone (me? Really? No phone? Ha-ha) Okay so I am bad with a cell phone across the glob or across the street, but not being able to be reached at any time, any where, always brought a sense of relief and lifted feelings of stress.
9:50am Thursday morning. Our radio crackled words that the boat needing our spot was here-two hours early! Our engines roared to life, Ben ran down from a taxi with our filled propane tanks, Noah untied our lines, the dock master practically pushed us off, and Riggs flipped a U-turn in a channel giving us no inch to spare. As we passed the waiting boat our crew waved and their crew starred at us with open mouths-I guess we did not look like the 76-foot vessel they were imagining (hehe).
Miami’s coastline slowly shrank in the background and with every splash of a wave my heart fell into a similar rhythm-peaceful. I am no fisherman, but I do like lure called the “The Bubbler” and Nick helped me trail the line off the stern. “Click, click, click, click”…the reel went spinning! I grabbed the fishing rod and began to crank it in! OOO this was exciting….everyone watched and cheered as I pulled up a TUNA! It wasn’t a huge tuna, but it was a tuna no less. “Noah if you get that BBQ put together I will splay and grill this sucker up for dinner!” Noah and Nick worked like crazy to get the grill pieced together and Ben prepared the fish. Yummy. The eating of the 30-minute fresh fish frenzy had begun! I called my mom…I was so proud (haha).
Looking ahead I saw nothing but ocean blue. My mind raced creatively predicting events to come. Nothing I had pictured in my head would even compare to the events about to unfold in my future, but it was fun to imagine nonetheless. Sails raised, I sat back , put my feet up, and took my first shift at the helm.
