A Tribute to Buddy Boating Story by Gail Hayes


their home lake. But in the distance, almost invisible on the hori- zon, appeared a miniscule white triangle, and on the VHF radio were the comforting encouragements from our boat family: “We can see you, you’re fine.” “Once you get past the channel marker, the water flattens out.” “We’re almost at the harbor.” Te encouragement was a comforting antidote to our horri-


T


fied epiphany that we, inexperienced lake sailors, were, literally and metaphorically, in over our heads. Ten years and nine sum- mer trips have passed since that first “no guts, no glory,” sailing adventure. Since then, we have succumbed to the temptation of buying a bigger boat and a bigger motor. The Dixon kids, our boat children, have also gotten bigger, growing up and sometimes too busy to join our summer cruises. Our grandson has grown enough to come along and believes that he has a right to appear in all the Dixon’s “family” photo- graphs. We have learned to sail, at least a bit, better. Te constant in our yearly summer cruise has been our boat buddies. I can’t imagine doing a major trip solo. Tere are lots of advantages to trailersailing with a boat buddy.


Te most obvious one is support and safety. It is reassuring to know that we don’t have to face mechanical problems with our trailer or boat alone. Even though we are meticulous about maintenance and spend the offseason working on the boat and trailer, things—a flat tire, a missing screw on a bunk, a misfiring motor—happen. Tools go missing or fall irretrievably into the water. Brake lights that worked fine in the driveway mysteriously stop working an hour down the road. Bimini covers unwrap themselves going 60 miles an hour on the interstate. Less serious, but no less important, mishaps occur on almost every trip—spat- ulas and contact lens cases forget to pack themselves; can openers stop working—and it’s always nice to know that there is a backup when things go wrong. Tere is also something comforting about sharing the inev-


itable summertime bad weather with others. We have endured thunderstorms together, watching each other’s boats surf the waves through streaks of lightning. We have kayaked through torrential rain to the dry comfort of a porch swing hanging from the raſters of a deserted mansion, where we watched wild ponies huddle together under the trees. Together we have watched the Cape Lookout Lighthouse go dark during a volatile thunder- storm. We have raced an oncoming storm to a marina in the Florida Keys. Another boat and set of sailors can also provide reassurance in bad weather. We watch out for each other—for dragging anchors, failed mooring balls, and for loose dinghies. But it is not just the security in sharing risks. Te joys of a trip double exponentially when experienced together. Two boats


SMALL CRAFT ADVISOR


he seas between the Cedar Island Ferry launch and Oc- racoke Island were rough and scary—especially for two novice sailors on a Starwind 19 who had never been off


provide at least twice the number of eyes to watch for dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and manatees. We would have missed our first experience with bioluminescence if the Dixons hadn’t spotted it first. We have watched meteor showers, each family sitting quietly on the bow of their boat, breathing in the majesty of the dark Carolina night. Aſter a late-night arrival and launch, we have woken joyfully to the beauty of a mountain lake. More people on a shore excursion mean that there’s always a


We have endured thunderstorms together, watching each other’s boats surf the waves through streaks of lightning.


restaurant or fudge shop to recommend. We have sampled ice cream in four states and together we have discovered gems of hamburger joints and barbeque restaurants. We have looked for sea turtles aſter dark and gleefully compared shells and sand dol- lars. We’ve shared conversations and change at the laundromat. That’s not to say that we’re always joined at the hip. We have days when we just hang out on our own boats, reading and enjoying the breeze, days when we sit on a beach or take a hike as separate entities. True boat buddies under-


stand and appreciate the need for privacy and the joys of solitude under sail. Tey understand the need for a day of scrubbing to eliminate whatever odor has overtaken your boat aſter a week of constant wet. And, oh, how reassuring to discover that they also have a phantom stench to eliminate! Only members of an extended boat family can appreciate and


help record memories of trips past. Who except for a boat buddy will provide you with photographs of your boat under sail? Our boat buddies share special memories with us—the night the mooring ball chain snapped, the boondocking adventures on the way to the Florida Keys, the wonderful welcome and treatment we received from the small towns along the Albemarle Loop. We still laugh about a last-minute change, prompted by the weather, where we decided to travel to Georgia rather than North Caro- lina, turning south rather than north onto I-95 from our starting place. Our shared experiences have enriched our relationship and our lives. Te memories of our trips sustain us during the off-sea- son, warming us with the reflected pleasure of those past trips. But the enjoyment of past trips is only one of the rewards


of being in a secure boat buddy relationship. Tere is also the joy of the future. Almost as soon as one trip is over, we begin to anticipate the next one. What worked well this trip that we can use next time? Where are we going next? What will we do differently? From July to April, we daydream and plan and re- search. We share ideas about the next year’s journey and the next big trip. We update each other on the condition of our boats and changes and repairs we are making. We defeat the dreary gray skies of February with the promise of sunshine and sea- spray, of dolphins off the bow and local pizzerias, of snorkeling adventures, of future exploration…Te possibilities of the next trip, the next destination, seem endless. Te one constant—our boat buddies. •SCA•


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