Caribbean Compass Yachting Magazine 2015

WHAT’S ON MY MIND…
A Speck of White
in the Deep Blue
by Monica Pisani
and a daily dose of orange, pink or tangerine. We lived our days surrounded by
nature and its creatures, our energy came from the sun, and we moved because
the wind blows.
Although living in a sailboat is an amazing life, it does not come without its share
of compromises and challenges. At first, it seemed like a simple life, and in many
ways it was. But living almost off the grid, and having a series of situations that
require new skills, brought self-reliance to a new level, and also redefined “simple”.
On the personal level, coping with the emotional, physical and mental challenges
was exhausting. Only once the new life became routine, the focus on this awesome
lifestyle and appreciation for the opportunity was reinstated.
The night fell; thunderstorms could be seen far away behind us, the moon lit up the
night as I sat behind the helm with my reliable companions, Garmin and the very noisy
autopilot. As my captain slept soundly, I
contemplated; I absorbed the moment, as
the smoothness of the seas hypnotized
me. Journey, oblivious to me, moved gently
in a rhythmic stride, leaving behind a
trail of white lace that would soon dissolve
into the blackness of the sea, eliminating
all evidence of our presence.
‘We had a few overnights and long days
ahead… a perfect breeding ground
for reflection’
SEPTEMBER 2015 CARIBBEAN COMPASS PAGE 38
Deciding what to do for hurricane season 2015 was painful, as my captain and I
struggled with our own conflicting desires and needs. Once all points were considered,
and reason spoke over heart, we both agreed that, although it was a bit late in
the season, we should sail back to the USA with as few stops as possible. Although
it felt great to have a plan, my heart felt vulnerable and a bit sad.
We left at mid-morning for a longer journey than usual. It was one of the last days
in May and we were leaving St. Thomas and dear friends behind.
We sailed through Puerto Rico, once again, and we were reminded of how the island’s
music brought friends and families together on weekend-long life celebrations.
Once we left the Dominican Republic and headed towards the Bahamas, we had a
few overnights and long days ahead, which meant a lot of uncommitted time — a
perfect breeding ground for reflection.
Captain and Journey (our 42-foot Tatoosh) were happy. We were sailing on a broad
reach, Journey’s favorite tack; the seas were perfectly calm and a steady easterly
trade of 15 knots filled her sails. The sun was setting on the port bow, and the moon,
still low in the sky, could be seen behind us, preparing to illuminate our path during
the night ahead.
As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but sky, horizon and ocean. No
land in sight, no sailboats, no cargo or cruise ships, just us. A little speck of white
on the deep blue sea as we navigated across some of the deepest waters on the
planet. The sound of the water, as Journey glided through it, was exhilarating. It
conveyed freedom and the adventure of a journey one can only fully grasp if experiencing
it firsthand.
I felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Gratitude for being one of the chosen few to
experience life at sea, as we had for the past two years. The scenery was, as
always, incredibly beautiful, and often surreal with its mix of blues, greys, silvers,
ADVERTISER LOCATION PG# ADVERTISER LOCATION PG# ADVERTISER LOCATION PG# ADVERTISER LOCATION PG#
Aero Tech Lab C/W 32
Art Fabrik Grenada MP
B & C Fuel Dock Grenada 28
Barefoot Yacht Charters SVG 19
Blue Lagoon Hotel & Marina SVG 18
Boat Paint & Stuff St. Maarten 32
Budget Marine St. Maarten 2
Captain Gourmet SVG MP
Caraibe Marine Martinique 16
Caraibe Marine Martinique MP
Caribbean Marine Electrical Trinidad MP
Clarke's Court Grenada 23
Clippers Ship Martinique MP
Curaçao Marine Curaçao 12
Dino Agency Columbia MP
Dominica Yacht Services Dominica MP
Down Island Real Estate Grenada MP
ADVERTISERS INDEX
Doyle Offshore Sails Tortola 4 Lazy Turtle Bar & Restaurant Grenada MP
Doyle's Guides USA 37 LIAT C/W 8
Echo Marine Jotun Trinidad 10 Marc One Marine Trinidad MP
Edward William Insurance C/W 29/MP Marina Santa Marta Colombia 26
Electropics Trinidad MP Marina Zar-Par Dominican Rep. 29
Food Fair Grenada 31 McIntyre Bros Grenada 32
Free Cruising Guides C/W 13 Mid Atlantic Yacht Services Azores MP
Gonsalves Liquors SVG 36 Mount Gay Round Barbados Barbados 5
Grenada Marine Grenada 13 Multihull Company C/W 35
Grenadines Sails SVG MP Neil Pryde Sails Grenada MP
Hydrovane International Marine C/W
MP Off Shore Risk Management Tortola 10
International Inflatables St. Lucia MP Parts & Power Tortola 22
Iolaire Enterprises UK 31/36 Power Boats Trinidad MP
Island Dreams Grenada MP Regis Guillemot Martinique 17
Island Water World Sint Maarten 40 Renaissance Marina Aruba 25
Island Yacht Charters C/W 36 Sea Hawk Paints C/W 7/9/11
Johnson Hardware St. Lucia 14 Slipway Restaurant Grenada MP
Spice Island Marine Grenada 39
SpotlessStainless C/W MP
St. Kitts Marine Works St. Kitts 12
Sugar Reef Bequia Ltd SVG MP
Sunbay Marina Puerto Rico 24
Technick Grenada MP
Turbulence Sails Grenada 13/ MP
Vava'u Marine Services Tonga 28
Venezuelan Marine Supply Venezuela MP
WIND Martinique MP
Yacht Steering Committee Trinidad 6
YSATT Trinidad MP
MP = Market Place pages 33 to 35
C/W = Caribbean-wide