A nerve-wracking opportunity

‘There’s a first time for everything,’ my mother would say by way of robust encouragement if I was hesitant about trying something new. In the 20-plus years of sailing with my husband Rod there have been plenty of amazing ‘first times’. First ocean passage, first tropical landfall, first circumnavigation. And a few not-so-good ones too: first tropical storm, first going aground, first oh-my-God-the-floorboards-are-floating.

A few years ago Rod suggested it was for the first time. I don’t mean take a watch, or make a critical navigation decision, but to take out for a cruise without him on board. It wasn’t a huge step – we are both well used to running the boat – but on the other hand we, as most couples tend to, fall into a routine whereby R does most of the ‘parking’, while I attend to the warps and anchor.