The afternoon I left home I sailed to the Sore Thumb, just inside the Fire Island Inlet and slept there for the night. The next morning the wind was blowing hard from the Northwest. I passed through the inlet just before sunrise to catch the last of the outgoing tide. Transiting the inlet went smooth and I started flying when I put the sails up. The seas were still calm with the offshore wind but my heading would bring me further offshore to cut across the Hudson Canyon and hit Barnegat or Manasquan inlet in New Jersey.
Within an hour I was in some pretty rough stuff and Tula was bouncing around pretty good. I felt a little funky and I hadn’t eaten anything for breakfast so I thought an apple would be a good idea. It wasn’t. I became seasick for the first time ever but I guess that doesn’t say much since before two months ago I have never been offshore my entire life. The situation I found myself in was a new one. The first of many. I couldn’t just go and lay down in a warm, comfy, dry, STATIONARY bed. I couldn’t even go into the cabin for more than 5 minutes without feeling sick and forget reading or doing tasks on the boat to make the time go by, every time I focused on something for more than a few seconds my head started spinning. So I sailed. I had to sail, I was the only one who controlled my fate (deep stuff huh?). Whatever, but its true. and we all control our own fate or destiny (still too deep?) but to this degree and in this physical scenario? It was just pretty new to me. Not that it was scary or I would have perished away or anything like that, of course if I didn’t do anything I would just get blown out to sea or into a sandbar, but it just made me think that there are no other options and I am completely responsible for myself. This is in contrast to the world I grew up in where there are always options, people to help, or some sort of alternative comfort in an uncomfortable situation. And then I saw dolphins. They were cool. I have never been so close to wild dolphins and they were just swimming next to, under, and around Tula. Even jumping out of the water at times. Below are some video clips of them (better than what I previously posted).
Blah blah then it got calmer as I approached Jersey, I went through Manasquan inlet, through a sweet old bascule bridge, into a calm quiet anchorage, and right into the soft mud. Thank god for tides, mostly rising tides. That’s all.
Excuse my extremely poor grammar. If you have a very short book with very large text that will tell me how to write better please recommend it to me and hopefully it is on half.com.
I think I am going to start dedicating my posts to people. That sounds like a good small way of showing my thanks (I have a lot). Thank you so much Mom and Dad for making this trip possible for me. Even though a lot of my paths are unconventional, (is that the right word?) you guys see the good in them and the lessons I will learn. I think. Either way you support me in them and help me out sooo much in the right ways (like not sinking my boat and letting me leave, mom). But also like raising me in a way where I am mentally tough and and intuitive (right word again?) enough to deal with rough situations. So thank you, I love you guys!
That was a better post then you will ever know. Keep it coming Billy, you are many things and now you can add a writer to that long list. Sleep well.
Thank you so much for this awesome post. It makes all of the worry worth it! We are SOOOO proud of you. You have been “unconventional” since birth! That is what makes you “you” and makes you so special. We love you xoxoxo
Dear “Little” Billy, (as Mike &I have always referred to you haha) Not so little anymore. What you are doing is incredible and brave. Most young people just leave home and brave paying their own rent. You being out on your own braving the elements, which are things you cannot control, and just using the skills you’ve been taught in life by your parents is wonderful testament to them. We were all four together the other night when your Mom had FaceTime with you and we had discussed the stark analogy between you and your parents and Mike and I concerned about our son living in Brooklyn in an environment totally out of the comforts he’s use to. He grew up watching his father leave the house armed and protected with a bullet proof vest everyday to work in Brooklyn and now, like your Dad who worries because he knows and respects the water, here you are out there dealing with things that you are finding can at times be intolerable but you chip away at it and get it done… You get through it. You’re in a sailboat all alone out on the water and my son is in Brooklyn many times on subways or walking through areas that are unsafe with no gun or Kevlar vest to protect him but he gets back and forth through everyday and we worry like your parents worry …but he feels he can do this as you feel you can do what you’re doing…true….two completely different things and your feat is truely note worthy …while my son’s is expressed in his music. All I can say at this time is what I say to my own son, be safe and well. We support what you’re doing on yoyr awsome journey and will continue to keep track and keep you in our daily prayers. I hope my long and boring email helps pass the time …haha. Wishing you peace from all of us, The Barkers
Thank you so much Christine, that message means a lot. I will be safe and thinking of you guys!
Ditto!…I passed your link on to my son. Be well…we’re looking forward to more posts of your journey.
Christine B.
Absolutely amazing, please share as much as you can for a fellow “Section XIer”