There are many ways to seek wisdom. There is travel, there are masters, there is service. There is staring into the eyes of children and elders and lovers and strangers. There is sitting silently in one spot and there is being swept along in life’s turbulent current. Life itself will grant you wisdom in ways you may neither understand nor choose. It is up to you to be open to all these sources of wisdom and to embrace them with your whole heart.
Kent Nerburn
When I first learned I was going to become a grandparent, I have to admit I cringed a little on the inside. My gut told me that the moment my first grandchild was born, it would mean I was officially old. What I didn’t realize was the connection I would have with this new little soul, one that would allow me to be young again by seeing the world through his eyes. The legacy of our family, what we brought into this world, is expanding and multiplying. We delight in his delights, relish every belly laugh as he discovers joy and happiness, and lo and behold, we are creating a new generation of sailors and explorers who are ready to take on the world and follow in the footsteps of their grandparents.
Having spent the last four months in the Bahamas and traveling up the coast, we take every opportunity to see our family. We are heading to Nova Scotia and stopped in Cape May for a mini family reunion. Our daughter Katie could not attend as she lives in California, but our son Derek and daughter-in-law Catie and Philip, Shelby, and Orion came to see us on Equus. Derek came bearing gifts from the family – a brand new marine grade collapsible bike, an anniversary present from my husband, and a kick-ass cooler for dad for fathers day. Love my kids… Philip left us with another major gift, his wife and child to accompany us for a two-week passage to Newport, RI.
Our grandson Orion has spent time on our boat. He sailed with us from Annapolis to Bowley’s Quarter Marina on our maiden voyage to bring our boat home. He has taken day trips and spent a week venturing around the Bahamas. This occurred all before he turned three. Now that he has turned to the ripe old age of three, we decided we could introduce him to the more rigorous scenario of passage making.
We set out from Cape May for an overnight passage. The wind was at our back and the following seas were not kind. Our boat tossed unceremoniously as if being agitated in the wash cycle. The entire day and night was uncomfortable. It was a hard test for a little guy – but he passed with flying colors. Shelby was unfortunately overtaken by nausea and did what she could to keep herself comfortable. The little guy vomited once when he saw his mom get sick over the side, but he recovered quickly and got himself back in the sailing game.
The next morning we arrived in NYC at dawn. The outline of Coney Island came into view and we all breathed a sigh of relief upon reaching our first destination. As we rounded the corner of the harbor, the massive expansive Verrazano Bridge loomed ahead. Manhattan’s skyline stretched across the horizon and we got our first glimpse of what I couldn’t wait to show Orion, the tall green figure carrying the torch of freedom, Lady Liberty herself. Sailing into NYC was one of my sailing bucket list items and I felt sheer joy and rapture as I gazed upon the iconic sights. My heart beat a bit faster. I could honestly say that moment was one of the most exciting on our voyage thus far.
We arrived at the base of the Statue of Liberty in the wee hours of the morning. The harbor was deserted of ferries, power boats and any other signs of life. It was as if the giant city of millions was still slumbering and we had our own private view of that sleeping baby. The only indication of people stirring was the silent line of traffic crossing the bridge. We tarried at the base of the statue and marveled at the views and the private moment we shared of seeing the magnificent city and all she represents from the bow of our own boat. We pictured what our ancestors must have felt after crossing the Atlantic and gaining sight of their port of entry into the new world, Ellis Island.
When our heartbeats returned to normal and we had taken sufficient photos, we headed up the river to our anchorage at the 79th Street Marina. I was surprised at the small smattering of boats in the mid-sized marina. I had always envisioned the rivers of NYC heavily populated with sailing and motor vessels. Boat activity was at a minimum but the view of the city skyline and shores of New Jersey were breathtaking. It seemed we had a semi-private view of this most incredible city; a revelation as well as delight.
For just $25 a night, we gained access to the marina’s dinghy dock and facilities. This meant we could dinghy to shore walk into the city and Central Park, four short blocks away. Each night after having our adventures in the city, we would retreat to our private view of the city, watch the sunset and sleep in quiet peacefulness one would not expect on the doorstep of the City That Never Sleeps!
Our daily adventures in the city included taking Orion and Shelby into the heart of Central Park. The incredible history of the park is wound around the unique sections of ponds, bridges, statues, fountains, fields and abundant rocks perfect for climbing when you are 3. A highlight had to be the lake filled with miniature motorized sailboats. The park is also filled with creatures of various sorts, turtles in the ponds, many varieties of birds, squirrels and other small mammals. Orion’s favorite activity was chasing pigeons which took to flight as he ran toward them yelling, but immediately returned unfazed to waddle in search of the ever-elusive crumb.
On par with most 3-year-olds, Orion has a fascination with dinosaurs. Where better to come face to face with the prehistoric beasts than the Museum of Natural History located at the edge of Central Park. We spent the entire day mesmerized by exhibits at the museum, from life-size blue whales to the iconic full-sized replica of a T-Rex.
The perfect end to the perfect day for Orion was running through the fountains outside the museum and cooling off from the blistering hot day. A short walk down a few blocks brought us back to our haven on the water. Once back aboard Equus we cooked dinner, watched the sunset and enjoyed a quiet evening as the lights of the city bloomed into brightness and provided one of the most spectacular views we have ever had at anchor.
Our last day in NY, we visited with our good friend made through the vaulting community. Orion got to ride on his first subway and we visited Rockefeller Center and Union Square. Part of what we love most about sailing is finding friends and visiting them. We took our friend back to our boat for a sunset cruise under the George Washington Bridge. We love sharing our little piece of our heaven. Early the next morning, w
e left NYC behind us and traveled northward once again. Long Island Sound was filled with incredible sights but no stranger to Captain Dan. We passed the US Merchant Marine Academy, Dan’s Alma mater, and where he made his debut in the sailboat racing world. The shores of the academy brought back many memories for Dan, as he recounted stories of those days. I thanked the academy as we passed for creating such an amazing seaman with the skills needed to undertake an adventure such as ours. He keeps us afloat, keeps our boat running, and bolsters me through the tough parts.
I watched with a tear in my eye as we were tacking away from the academy. My grandson was attentive as Dan changed course and set the mainsail. As Dan reached for the jib sheet to make way on the new tack, Orion speedily dove for the winch handle. At 3, in a week, he had memorized the actions needed to put our boat on a new tack. While he lacked the physical strength to winch in the sheet, he was ready with handle and instinctively knew when it was needed. He had been practicing each day, placing the handle in the winch and cranking it, looking at the sail and I hope imagining the day he will be captaining his own boat, following in the footsteps of his grandfather. Son of a son of a sailor, Orion has proved himself an excellent crew member and quite the budding little seaman. Onward and northward!