Sailing South 'til the Butter Melts: The Amazing Adventures of the Sea Cat Chowder, #1

By LeCain W. Smith

Most cats don't dream about sailing around the world. Neither did Chowder. But in the 1990's, she somewhat reluctantly joined her caregivers, Captain Lee and mate Sheila, on a voyage that lasted six years, covering over 45,000 miles while visiting foreign lands and remote paradise islands.

            In this first of three books based on her true life sea adventure, Chowder reveals how she left her home on land and got her sea legs onboard a forty-three foot sailboat that Lee built. While they sail down the west coast of the Americas to the enchanted islands of the Galapagos, she shares how she handles each experience and adapts to the variety of situations that occur during her first two years at sea. Her apprehension turns into a sense of curiosity and wonder as she is transformed into a global sea cat by the challenges of rolling seas, large freak waves, lightning, storms, sharks, ugly insects, wild jungle animals, and the dangers of pirates. Yet, she also purrs about the pleasure of eating fresh fish, playing with birds, encounters with singing parrots, dancing dolphins, spouting whales, and friendly folks from many cultures. She loves to give the readers the inside scoop on life aboard a cruising yacht. Come sail away with her!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Windrose Productions
• Release date: Apr 3, 2021
• ISBN: 9780961550837

LeCain W. Smith

LeCain W. Smith, known to his friends as Captain Lee, was born near the ocean on the coast of Maine and was called to the sea early in life. Over the years different sailboats took him on many nautical adventures, and on most every voyage, he had a cat as a companion. With time, his skills came to include teaching sailing and navigation, boatbuilding, boat deliveries, yacht surveying, acting as a harbormaster, and chartering boats as a licensed captain. In addition, he wrote several nonfiction books with nautical, historical, and health-related themes. While living in Port Townsend, Washington, during the 1980’s he spent five years building a forty-three foot ketch and then completed a six-year voyage around the world. In company with his mate Sheila and trusted sea cat Chowder, this extensive exploration took them through many remote islands of paradise and exotic parts of the world. When it was over, Chowder felt that all their adventures were definitely worth sharing. Since LeCain had produced Far Away, a documentary video about the South Pacific part of their voyage, Chowder decided to tell her own version of the complete story with a trilogy of books, starting with: Sailing South ‘til the Butter Melt, and followed with this one: Far Away Islands of Paradise, and ending with Westward Beyond the Horizon. For more info about ordering, reviews, interviews, and personal links go to his website at www.windroseaway.com.

Book preview

Dedicated to all the children and cats who dream

of big adventures on the high seas

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I must thank my sea cat Chowder. Without her loving companionship, this book could not have been created. Next, I offer my deepest gratitude to my first mate, editor, and advisor Sheila Moir. I also give thanks to Chris Ramsay for editorial services. In addition, I would like to thank Curry Ander, Martha Jordan, Brooke Minner, Dan Bouchard, and Jenny Solomon for their proofreading and suggestions. The feedback from a number of children who read the manuscript is also greatly appreciated. As for the images, I must thank artist Zuzona Huot for her analysis and comments. And last, but most certainly not least, my gratitude to digital wizard Jim Kosinski, who created the front and back covers and rendered invaluable assistance in the final modification of all my interior drawings.

Introduction

Hello! I am Chowder the global puss cat, and I’m very excited to introduce the first of three books about my six-year voyage sailing around the world. Since there are so many adventures to cover, I had to divide the complete story into three books, making this the first in a trilogy.

After all the lively times I have been through, I feel inspired to reveal what it’s like for a cat to live on a sailboat during an extensive ocean cruise. So many amazing things happened to me that I feel compelled to share them. Although I was not initially interested in undertaking such an adventure, my caregivers, Captain Lee and mate Sheila, were determined to convince me it was worthwhile. Although not all the experiences were enjoyable, I have to admit that many were delightful and humorous. In the end, it turned out to be a very memorable, educational, and entertaining adventure.

Within the following pages, you will first hear about some experiences other sea cats have had and the variety of possible situations you would likely encounter when cruising far away on the high seas. I continue with how my own life as a youth on land was transformed into one living on the water. After learning how I adjusted to training and preparations for the start of the grand voyage, you will then be able to follow us along through the initial offshore segments of the journey, sailing down the west coast of the U.S.A. through Central America to the enchanted Galapagos Islands.

Join me on this journey as I encounter wild animals, singing parrots, dancing dolphins, spouting whales, ugly insects, and other forms of tropical jungle life. You will also experience what it’s like to navigate through tricky waters, get your sea legs on rolling waves, and survive challenging conditions such as storms, fog, and lightning. While these lively experiences occur on the deck of a boat, there also are plenty of unusual forms of excitement and entertainment to be found among the people living in foreign lands. May all these adventures tickle your curiosity and feed your imagination.

PART I

GETTING MY SEA LEGS

Chapter 1 – Living on the High Seas

I rolled over slowly and opened my eyes. The sun was shining brightly, and the smooth, glassy, deep-blue sea reflected a clear sky above. Only a few small puffy clouds drifted slowly by, while a warm breeze caressed my fur. As I looked down toward the surface of the water, I saw some movement. At first it seemed like a small wave, but then I saw a fin rising to reveal a beautiful silver dolphin plowing its way over the surface. After it glided by with a quick glance in my direction, I noticed a small tropical island that seemed to be coming closer. To my surprise, I soon realized it was me that was getting closer to the island while lying on the deck of the sailboat as it moved across the water.

When I came even closer to the island, I got a fine view of tall coconut palm trees and numerous tropical birds, including a colorful parrot. They all made lots of noise chirping and squawking. I noticed a small hut and some boys playing on the beach. I began to wonder where I was, but before I could really consider this question, the boat surged on a large wave, and I was rolled over onto my other side. A strong wind came up and made the boat tilt over. I now noticed dark clouds stretching across the horizon.

It was not long before the winds increased to gale force, and I had to dig my claws in to keep from falling into the sea. The wind ruffled my fur as I tried to get under cover. The noise of the wind was deafening. I cried out, but could not hear my own voice. The ocean waves grew larger and splashed over the boat. It became difficult to stay securely on the boat, and before I knew it, a large wave broke over me, and I fell into the now-dark sea. As I plunged deep into the water, I saw all sorts of fish swimming rapidly around a coral reef. One larger fish—I think was a shark—saw me and turned my way, swimming very fast. Before I was able to move, the shark came right up to me and opened his big mouth. When his teeth surrounded me, I descended into darkness, which soon turned into a bright light.

I woke up in a sweat.

Wow, what a dream! Recently, it seems I have had many like this. They all seem to express both my delights and fears during my past time at sea. I was glad to be awake. I shook my head, rolled over, and sat upright on the bed in our cozy cabin on land. It’s been over a year now since my grand ocean adventure ended, but the memories of that time in my life are still vivid. Since I am a very talkative cat and remember those exciting days with great fondness, I really must tell you all about it.

But before I get going, I should introduce myself. My name is Chowder. I am a very large and friendly female calico cat. Now remember that although Chowder is my birth name, while sailing around the world I acquired many other names, but the one that really took hold was one big fella puss cat. As a real sea cat, I am not a kitty cat, puddy tat, lap cat, or pussy cat. So keep that in mind when you see me referred to as a puss cat or even a global puss cat. I am very proud of this distinction, and although I do love sitting on some people’s laps, I am very independent and enjoy being a part of the larger world we all live in.

I was born in a small town on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State along the northwestern coast of the U.S.A. My parents, or I really should say caregivers, were the humans Captain Lee and his first mate Sheila. Lee is a tall bearded man, and Sheila is a short lady with long, flowing red hair. We all lived together in a small house not far from the beach by the Strait of Juan de Fuca, which leads out to the Pacific Ocean. I grew up leading a simple life with few thoughts about water. Except for drinking it and my peculiar fascination with humans taking a shower, I had no real attraction to water and even less to salty seawater. Little did I know that Captain Lee felt otherwise. It wasn’t until I heard him tell stories about other sea cats he had with him on past ocean voyages and his dream of sailing around the world, that I realized my future would someday take a new direction.

My life as a young cat on land was good. Although Lee often teased me too much, he was a kind man, and both he and Sheila provided much support and nurturing. While still fairly young, I became a mother of six kittens. Lee gave them all nautical names like Forepaw and Spritsail. After they found good homes with neighbors, I began to wonder what was next for me in this life. The real clue came when Lee erected a big enclosed structure next to our house and started building a large sailboat. When I later heard him singing sea shanties, I suspected life would soon set my paws on a new course, one that would involve a lot more water. Little did I know it would be a long journey on oceans full of seawater.

Looking back years later, I really can’t complain. What became an amazing sailing voyage circumnavigating the world for six years is definitely full of stories worth telling. It was not all fun and games, since there were many extreme situations caused by the ever-changing weather conditions and natural elements found at sea. In addition, we had to deal with unsavory characters and wild animals on both land and sea. However, when I remember all the wonderful times lazing around, eating fish, and chasing birds, I really can’t whimper about my life at sea. The good and the bad seem to balance out. I guess that is what life is really all about anyway.

Before the voyage was over, I saw many islands that we would call tropical paradises. All of them had a big influence on my life and on my dreams, such as the one I just had.