Sailing to St. Eustatius

Ashley

11 February 2011

Anchored at St. Eustatius

Gazing glassy eyed at the rushing waves, I clipped on my harness and heaved over the side. I was en route to Tortola on board the schooner Harvey Gamage. The constant pitching and rolling of our boat shook my insides, and they struggled to get out. Ahead of me, my shipmates were sheeting in the jib. The tremendous noise the luffing of the sail made jolted me out of my stupor, and I was suddenly, frighteningly aware of my surroundings.

I, strengthened by the beating wing, hoisted myself up to help them. I laid on the line, and my pain was forgotten as we, in unison, cried, “Two, six, heave!” and steered our behemoth hostess towards land.