Teresa at the helm of Lastdance off Shackleton Bank

22 April - Technically, I’ve already been sailing this year but that was aboard s/v Audrey with Jon and Michelle. Easter Sunday I unbridled Lastdance from her doubled-up winter lines and cast off with Teresa in a warm southeast breeze. Teresa had not sailed in several decades, and then, only on a Hobie-Cat. This was her first sail aboard Lastdance and it was a perfect day for it, with 15 knots of wind on a sparkling blue ocean.

   Departing Town Creek Marina, we entered Gallants Creek which took us to the bascule bridge separating Beaufort from Pivers and Radio Islands. Once clear of the bridge, I turned the helm over to Teresa. This was my first venture on this meandering waterway and I was wary of charted shoals that may have shifted during the frequent storms this past winter. Teresa carried out my maneuvering commands carefully while I scanned and counted the buoys and markers that took us into Taylor Creek channel. When satisfied that we had enough room to head up, we raised our main sail and then proceeded into the ship channel where we unfurled the jib with a flourish. Then, with the engine silenced and only the sound of wind and our wake rippling astern, we steered a dogleg easterly course to the sea, on a broad reach.

   Once on the ocean, it became chilly and the wind stiffened. As Lastdance kicked up her heels, I could see that Teresa was experiencing the first thrills of harnessing the wind in a well found ship. We heeled further as we pointed higher and seeing Teresa’s broad grin as she steered an arrow-straight course, I thought, yes, she loves it!  Everyone had been teasing us about the “big test.” Knowing my passion for the sea, they’d ask, “Will she like sailing,” Until today all I could say was, “She’s been on the boat for weekends.” That always drew a skeptical glance but now she was sailing, clearly doing a good job of it and enjoying herself.

   This was a challenge to Teresa for several reasons. There was of course, the trial of doing something new and different, with an element of adventure and even danger. But, we were also both aware that sailing is what I do; it defines who I am and we couldn’t help consider what would it mean to our relationship if she didn’t like it? If there were any doubts, they were dispelled on a brisk sunny day off the coast of North Carolina as this adventurous woman sailed my little ship with joyful abandon.

   Teresa’s trick on the helm lasted all afternoon but as the wind increased and whitecaps formed on building waves, we tacked and came about on a course that took us back to Beaufort inlet. We sometimes surfed lazily in small following waves and Teresa sometimes let Lastdance get away from her but she’d quickly recover. Then, after an hour and one accidental jibe after a sudden wind shift, we slipped into the lee of Shackleford Banks. An hour after that, we were secure in our slip and sharing a glass of wine with our friend Ted Jones of s/v Ocean Gypsy. Ted had come over to help us with dock lines and as we talked of the day, Teresa came to understand the simple pleasure and camaraderie of post-sail yarn spinning.

   Back in Raleigh, Teresa treated me to a delux pedicure which in addition to removing "barnacles" from my feet, it felt incredibly good. Good enough that I finally finished up my taxes; ironically on Tax Freedom Day. Theoretically, that is the last day all of an average American’s wages for the year go to paying taxes. The rest of the year’s earnings are all ours…for now!

   I left Raleigh last Saturday and drove to Brooklyn to see my mom and brother, and then went to Philadelphia for my six month neck scan. The initial results are good but I have to go back in June for a 3 day battery of test, also routine. Hope all will be well with that…what a “pain in the neck huh?”