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Julia
Edward was taking me sailing! He was sharing his life-long passion with me, which really made me feel special. He made me promise to dress appropriately for the gusty weather, which meant a sweater and jeans but no flip flops or sandals. He said rubber-soled deck shoes were required footwear for his first mate. That was no problem. I had a quality pair of running shoes that would work just fine and I reminded him of exactly how much walking I used to do in order to get to work every day!
After breakfast we drove down to the wharf and parked in the marina lot. Edward carried our duffle bag full of warm clothes and our overnight suitcases, and I carried our picnic basket full of lunch goodies. We made our way down to the docks and we stopped when we got to slip F36.
“This is it. This is my baby!”
“Your boat is named Ecsta-Sea?”
“Yep. That’s exactly what she is!”
I felt a twinge of insecurity as I imagined the countless other women Edward must have “entertained” on his floating chick magnet. I watched apprehensively as he tossed all our gear into the sailboat cockpit and climbed aboard. Then he reached for my hand to help hoist me up as the ship’s deck rocked under his feet.
“This is actually quite a sweet boat just like you said Edward. Very nice…. So did your parents teach you how to sail when you were a kid?”
“No they didn’t really have the patience for that. They paid for my lessons though. And we did sail together as a family every summer. So they passed on their love of the sea on to me. It always seemed fitting that they died in the ocean and remain there to this day.”
“I guess that’s a positive way to look at it. It’s such a horrible tragedy though. I hate to think about it.”
“Me too. So let’s not. Let’s just enjoy our day. Come down below with me and check out the cabin inside. We need to make sure everything is secure down there so nothing goes flying around while we’re sailing.”
I followed Edward through the hatch and down the two wooden stairs.
“Aye Aye Captain! It’s amazing down here! I love it! The teakwood is beautiful! This is much roomier than it looks from the outside.”
“We can spend the night on the boat or we can stay at any one of the fine hotels in Half Moon Bay when we get there.”
“Are you kidding? Staying on the boat would be far more romantic!”
“I was hoping you would say that Julia! A woman after my own heart!”
“Always and forever Edward. So don’t you try to get away!”
“I’d have to be a fucking fool…..”
Edward kissed me tenderly and then he finished getting the Ecsta-Sea ready for her voyage out to sea. He checked all the necessary items; life vests, fuel, and of course the beer supply. Then he studied a couple nautical charts and finally determined we were ready to shove off. He untied the lines that secured the boat to the dock and hopped aboard into the cockpit. As Edward drove his pride and joy out of the marina and into the bay, a couple of barking sea lions lounging on the buoys greeted us before slipping back into their watery home.
“Don’t you just love all the wonderful creatures that live in the bay Edward?”
“Yeah they’re pretty awesome. They’ve even had some recent whale sightings out here.”
It was super-windy out there like Edward said it would be, but at least we had a nice sunny day for our sail. He raised the main sail all the way up before releasing the one in front that he called the jib. Then we he turned off the engine and WOOSH - just like that we were under wind power! He looked so rugged and sexy at the helm and he was really turning me on with all his salty sailor lingo.
The feeling was incredible! As soon as both sails were out I could immediately feel the wind fill them up and push the boat way over onto its side. Edward called it “heeling over” and assured me we would not capsize. It was unbelievably exhilarating! The chilly bay water splashed up into our faces as we cruised past Alcatraz Island, the infamous prison.
“The bay really is spectacular Edward! I can finally see why you’re so in love with it! God we’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful place!”
“We sure are! It takes on a whole different perspective when you’re right down here in the water doesn’t it?”
I got an emotional lump in my throat as we approached the underbelly of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge. It was awesome seeing the remarkable landmark so up close and personal. It was truly and engineering wonder. Once we sailed underneath the bridge it was plainly evident that were leaving the bay and entering the Pacific Ocean. In an instant the wind kicked up harder and the waves got rougher. My captain adjusted the sails as he turned the boat and headed south along the rugged coastline. It was absolutely glorious!
Edward was an impressive captain and he was truly in his element out at sea. I marveled at his nautical skills and wondered if there was anything he didn’t excel at. At that moment he decided to bark a ridiculous order at me:
“Okay first mate, it’s time for you to pose topless on the bow of the boat for me now!”
“Ha! Fat chance of that happening skipper! I’m wearing three layers of clothes! You specifically told me to dress warm for the weather and I did. Sorry! Just following captain’s orders……”
“Good girl! I hope you realize that it’s too rough for you to be up there right now anyway. The swells are a little bigger than I was expecting, so the cockpit is the place where you need to be right now. Right beside me.”
