Sailing Fast, Sailing Past | story & photos by Paul Haskins
The day ends with such calm, yet the hours behind me were filled with unanticipated thrills and excitement. We were tested. We broke records.
“You are my…?”
“Peak!” comes the unified cry of a dozen or so people holding the inch-thick line opposite me on the boat’s port side.
Chris Wallace, the ship’s mate, turns to us. “You are my…?”
“Throat!” we on the starboard side all yell out.
“Peak and throat—haul away!” she commands, and we commence raising the largest working mainsail on the north coast. Pull breathe pull breathe pull breathe pull…. We work together, and it’s apparent that after just the first sixty seconds all of us are fatiguing from the effort and the fact that, with each pull, we draw more weight into the air until all 2,000 pounds of gaff and mainsail hang, suspended, ready to work the southerly blowing off the Olympic mountains.
As with the main, our work, is not over. We all breathe hard as we move forward on deck to raise the not-quite-as-big-as-the-main foresail, followed by raising the much easier staysail and jib before making our lines neat and shipshape. A beautiful sight it is, a full set of sails raised, and I’m transported to a time when ships were moved merely by the grace of nature’s elements.
Well written article Paul! It reminds me of how I first felt coming aboard the old girl.
Thanks, Chris. Wait until you see the hardcopy!
Great! Nicely written article. See you aboard in June!
David
Great article Paul, beautiful ship but a little different each trip, each crew, each season and wind and tide. Go again and see what I mean. You may find your self going again and again and again. A rare opportunity to sail on the decks of such a marvel of history, a work of maritime art. We are so fortunate to live in the Pacific NW, and to have great Magazines like yours to bring some of those rare and often unique recreational opportunities to our attention. THANK YOU!
Great article Paul. And a great trip. Hope to see you aboard again soon.
Thanks Dave, Doug and Rory. The time aboard Zodiac was very special and I look forward to more in the future. I'm just glad that she has so many great hands caring for her.
Cheers to you all.