|
I never sailed across the Atlantic, Pacific, Southern Ocean, Whit-bread or the like. But in 1980 when I was 14 I sailed my sunfish across the Delaware bay and back. I left from the beach by the ferry terminal on the Cape May side at 7AM. I made landfall on the Lewes Delaware side shortly before noon. Made the return trip at 1PM arrived back at the Cape May terminal a little after 7PM. In my early twenties I made the same crossing in my Hobie 17. Not nearly the same experience. By the time I was 21 I was far more experienced and the Hobie bigger and faster.
When I think back of the Sunfish crossing I get the shivers. A 12 foot boat 3 inches off the water slow as a jellyfish. Not enough water to stay hydrated, no means of communication other than a whistle, my shirt and a hand wave. The potential for squall's to pop up. None did thankfully. The worst no one new I was going because I was afraid they would say no.
|