The purpose of life
When we were visited by a pod of dolphins, with the sails fore and aft sliding motionless through the air as Robin was propelled by her diesel engine, we were shown, I believe, the purpose of life.
The dolphins — at least three of them — came from the starboard side toward Robin, which was moving at about 5.5 knots in a northwesterly direction. Soon they were frolicking in the bow wave.
We were tired, though not gloomy. Robin had already achieved much more than we could have expected of her. Now the autopilot was down, having issued a burning smell when it died. And hours later, the windvane steering was out of order, the threads of a set screw that held her windvane aloft having been somehow stripped.
For a while, Robin was able to steer herself because our course was directly into the wind. Beating, we could set the sails, and without assistance, except from the bungee cord, she would hold her track.
But then the wind shifted, and we were left yawing to port and starboard. Hand steering was too laborious. I made the decision to offer Monica the option of turning on the engine and putting it in gear. I felt it was the sensible thing for two tired mariners to do — to get to port as quickly as possible.
It was after we had jointly made the decision to withdraw that the dolphins came to visit. Their stay was not prolonged, but it was poignant.
Both of us watched, filled with good cheer, as these exuberant animals bounded by Robin’s bow.
Then they slowed, drifting back along Robin’s hull and then into her wake. It was there that they presented us with a life lesson.
As we gazed back on them, they began jumping in the air. It could have been that they wanted one last look at their terrestrial visitors.
But then one of these beasts — these supposedly thoughtless collections of corpuscles and slippery gray skin — leapt high in our wake, showing us his shiny flank, and did a barrel roll, an expression of pure joy with, as far as I can tell, no Darwinian purpose.
Then they were gone from our view, these beautiful fellow travelers on our wonderful, frightening, mysterious sea.
And I thought: The purpose of life? Enjoy it.
June 26th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
You said it all, Sailor Boy! And I think that is exactly what you guys are doing! (Except for the getting beaned by the boom thing.)
June 26th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Seeing the dolphins in their natural habitat brings joy and can be humbling at the same time. Makes you think about the grand scheme of things when they appear out of nowhere from the vastness of the ocean. Glad you guys are safe and that the iron sail is on and moving you home. have a great weeekend.
June 27th, 2009 at 9:13 am
I like your last comment. You inspirate me!
June 27th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
awesome!!!!
June 27th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
you are absolutely right!that is exactly what i felt the dolphins were there to teach us all the times i have swam with them here!
June 30th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
So where are you two? Have you renewed your wedding vows yet?
Hey, there’s always another journey. What are your plans after Newport?
The Chesapeake is always waiting, with afternoon thunderstorms gathering blackness and giving boaters fright. July won’t be much better, and August is even worse. This has been a peculiar boating season here in the land of plewasant living.
July 1st, 2009 at 11:51 am
Jack took the words right out of my mouth “whats next?”
We all have throughly enjoyed sailing with you this month …
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Got to hand it to you, Doug. No falling for the lamest pun alive: “The porpoise of life.” Snark. Better man than I.