The āVIP yard’
After a weekend spent indulging in the rare angle of wave energy produced by the latest cyclone that turned southwest, I busily made the final preparations for Laurent, the yardās in-house glasser, to get started cutting away the shaft log the following morning. The week prior, the mechanic had helped me remove my transmission, to […]
A Motherās Work is Never Done
The instant I plucked the wee bird from the soggy sticks, there was no going backā¦I was undeniably the mother of this orphaned baby seabird. I was certain that the little creature must eat fish, but I had no idea how to raise it?! Shortly after the adoption, I rode my bike over to my […]
OLIās ‘Pearl’
The wind had decreased slightly by morning but it was still gusting over 40 knots. The waves had pulled the dirt away from Swellās supports in the night, but she remained upright. No boats in the yard had fallen or broken lines in the marina but others whispered of boats that had been beached or […]
Cyclone āOliā: thanks be to LAND
I couldnāt imagine how strong it was going to get as Simona and I finished taping the windows and bringing all the tables and chairs inside. As the gusts soared into the 40s, we gathered the last of the fallen mangos and prepared the boards to put in front of the doors should the waves […]
NISHA Fizzles, OLI bites
āThere is only room on the back lot of the yard,ā Karin said. āAnd Nisha has been downgraded. Are you sure you want to haul out now?ā āYes.ā I replied. āIām here, so letās just do it.ā The crew hauled Swell and transported her to the back of the yard near the street. ā¦Nisha passed […]
‘Vacation’ is Over.
Warm evening light danced between the shadows of the overgrown limbs and leaves on the jungle road. I bounced down the mountain in the back of Frederique and Tevaās truck, after theyād treated Tina, baby Matai, and a few other ladies to a day of pareo-making and a glimpse of island life in the mountains. […]
Legally Challenged
I popped my head out of the hatch around 10am after another brutal passage east from Bora Bora the prior day. Ā Just then, the big gray French police boat pulled into the bay. My heart lurched. I had a letter from the yard stating that Swell was āunsuitable to take to the seaā until the […]
Donāt Kill the Star!
And the next day at ten oāclock sharp, Jimmy circled Swell on his stand-up paddle board. āCome aboard,ā I called. āIām nearly ready!ā He descended into Swellās cabin, eyes wide, taking in all the quotes and photos and details. I showed him my book collection, hoping I could give him one of my favorites, but […]
Where the Wind and The Water are Free: Casual dining with Jimmy and Quino
I woke with a headache but couldn’t help but notice the size of the whitewater on the reef. The north swell was way up and I couldnāt rest despite my lack of sleep. I finally thumbed a ride to the reef and surfed away the afternoon and the headache. Upon my return, Jess and Teiva […]
āMother, Mother Oceanā¦I Have Heard You Callā¦Wanted to Sail Upon Your Waters Since I was 3 Feet Tallā¦ā
As you might have guessed from my Christmas blog, my family had listened to Jimmy Buffett for as long as I can remember. I was practically spoon-fed his lyrics throughout my childhood years aboard boats. My fatherās love for his music eventually became my own and album after album carried us through year after year. […]