“It would be good to live in a perpetual state of leave-taking, never to go nor to stay, but to remain suspended in that golden emotion of love and longing; to be loved without satiety."
--- Log from the Sea of Cortez
We had a good and proper send off! We spent 3 hours offering public tours of the boat and hundreds showed up. We were on a hard deadline to leave not only because that was what the crowds expected, but because a foul squall line was fast approaching with big southerlies associated with it. We knew we were in for a possibly rough passage past Big Sur, but if we got out quickly, the fetch wouldn't have time to build and maybe we'd get out of the worst of it.
That deadline meant that we had to rush people through the boat, perhaps a little faster than they were prepared to move. For the first time, we opened up the engine compartment, so that took a little longer. Still, in the end, everyone got a good and proper, albeit occasionally rushed, tour.
We were looking good for our 1500 departure, but then crisis hit. There were 9 people on board, but only 8 immersion suits. Fortunately, relief skipper Brian had one on his boat. He completed the round trip journey to Moss Landing in record time, probably breaking more than a few laws on the way, but we had our suit and it was time to go.
Despite the nearly one hour delay, hundreds of people hung in there to say good bye. As we cast off the lines, a cheer ripped through the crowd. I must admit to feeling more than a little emotional about being on the receiving end of all that good will.
And, so we are off!
The Fishwives Sea Shanty band sings from the top of the deckhouse.
Some of the many people wishing us Bon Voyage!
No comments:
Post a Comment