Sail away, Sail away, Sail away

May 18 2013


I've been fighting a lack of energy all week, since the full marathon really. I've been in bed before most children this week, barely getting home from work having a quick nibble and then tucking myself in.  I've had to catch the bus rather than cycle and sit down when ever possible (a little hard to do when your a physio and your job involves standing on your feet all day fixing people). Gee what ever has attacked my immune system has got me well.

With the forecast for rain and my rebuilding energy the day out cycling was put on hold and instead saying yes to some last minute plans proved to be the right choice.

Some days you really have to make your self look for the positives to remind yourself of each day of beauty and things to be grateful for. Other days you just feel you are where you are meant to be.  Today has been one of those.

I often have a hard time deciding if I love the Mountains or the Ocean more, lucky for me I live somewhere, where I can have access to both so easily and continue to appreciate both for their own unique beauty. Both are perfect places for meditation and reflection, adventure and thrill. Yes I'm so grateful I get to live in Vancouver.

Mo and his brothers have a beautiful sailing yacht. His brothers sailed it over from Victoria overnight and we met them at Granville Island in the morning. 11 of us set out for a day out on the ocean.  It started out with stormy clouds and droplets of rain but the excitement, energy and ethusiansm of everyone on board was still evident. We were all glad to be here.

The wind didn't pick up as predicted to begin with so once we were past the mandatory motor place, set the sails and waited. Okay wind anytime now, haha!

Meanwhile we had some amazing chefs on board, gee these guys surprised me in a lovely pleasant sort of way, not only did they know how to cook delicious food, they also cleaned up after themselves too. What a refreshing change :-)


While the wind was sorting itself out, we got to know each other and what a great energy the group held. I'm always grateful for meeting new people and feel that extra special connection at times when you know you were just meant to meet that certain someone for what ever the reason.


Fears were tested as we each climbed the mast, with a chest harness on I tried to remind myself its no different than top rope climbing in the gym. It felt that way at first until I had to haul myself over the half way point when it was too long a reach to the next grab point. Then I had to hang on for dear life as some big (well they felt big when I was way up there) waves from the wake of the larger boats come along. Of course if I had of let go I was locked off, but your not thinking clearly like that when up so high and the mast is bending as the yacht is rolling.  The views from up there were spectacular and once I got most of the way back down, Mo climbed above me and captured some great shots, Thanks Mo! Once I was back down I wondered how in massive swell or bad storms they keep there cool climbing so high and being swung around up there, brave....
"Do one thing every day that scares me" TICK


The delicious food kept coming including a BBQ of meat, vegies and potatoes off the back of the yacht. I thought only Australians knew how to BBQ but apparently the Canadians do too :-)


When the music stopped and everyone just closed their eyes you could feel that breeze of air on your skin, hear that 'silence' of the waves lapping against the hull and the gentle flapping at the sails. You know you are where you are meant to be....


I tried to learn a little about sailing such a large yacht but often probably got in the way more than helping.  Instead today was more about enjoying the company of those on board, building my energy back up through resting and as the sun decided to join us and the wind picked up we sailed away.......

Until it was time to turn around (turning around we did quite a lot today) and come back again... Honestly I could have just kept sailing I had no intention of wanting to return....

Thanks so much to the wonderful group on board, to Mo and his brothers for sharing their beautiful yacht it was such a wonderful day out. I look forward to more sailing adventures.

Sorry Mo couldn't resist this shot!!!