On Easter weekend, April 10-13, 2009, three sailboats from the Caribbean Sailing School & Club set sail from Fajardo to Culebra. I was onboard Lolita (30’ Benetau, cream and crimson colored tiller boat); the other two were Bébé (41’ Benetau) and Bébé II (32’ Benetau). The first day, eleven souls set sail under a small craft advisory, winds from the east accompanied by strong currents and occasional rain. We set sail due east early in the morning. Tacking and tacking, we made little progress and arrived at Dewey in Culebra at night. The second day, we sailed our fleet to Culebrita for an idyllic stay. The third day, we sailed to Ensenada Honda in Culebra, repairing a torn sail in Lolita. The fourth and last day, we sailed back to Fajardo with following winds and sunshine. I was inspired to write the following lines.
The Neverending Sail
passageway of the Tradewinds
currents churned to Fajardo
our sails beat winds and currents
to the islands of dreams we dare
Darker than dark our sailboat
Yemayá may protect us
Virgin of Cobre guides us
into light and dark Dewey’s
moonrise reflected waters
cream and crimson, blinded by night, float
Sunrise to Culebrita
filling our sails with whispers
sea songs, lullabies, chanteys
Silencing motors, cities
and other modern slavers
unreal, alien onboard Lolita
The degree, the right angle
that corner in the ocean
when all the sails must dance, tack
to Culebrita’s lighthouse
no signal, no service, bliss
full tango lines or lines that tangle
Captain Bob, soaring eagle
harp strings on vertical wings
Puff the magic dragon kite
caressing corals and rocks
with keel vibes, bubbles and foam
spirit dancing midst cloud and seagull
The lighthouse, the hill, the trees
white beach and gracious palm trees
moment of beauty, Earth sings,
“Love me, don’t disturb me, you’re
embraced in my arms of blue.”
Siren voices greening skies and seas
Predator, victim, Earth shares
life, death, live neverending
interspecies communion
man, woman, turtle, stingray,
barracuda aft sailboat
Do I, do you, does Earth—who cares?
It ends right where it started
same island but wilder side
castle rocks shield the lighthouse
gusty winds on bimini
memories of rainbow flights
sailors’ souls soared while minds just farted
