The Journey Begins

With one hand on the wheel and the other holding fast to the last line keeping your boat in its slip, you stare after the dock manager as he slowly walks away. You glance over at the other young man and see him doing the same. You're both slightly dumb and waiting for an answer that will never come. 

Suddenly, your attention is wrenched into the present as a gust catches the bow of your boat, causing it to twist in the slip. The transom drifts closer to the pier. Without thinking, you toss the line in your hand and reach for the throttle, throw the engine in reverse and crank the wheel to direct the thrust to oppose the drift. The side drift slows as the boat begins backing slowly out of the slip. And so the journey begins.

As your bow clears the final pier you realize you must now master two worlds, the dark world of the water below and the ever-changing world of the sky above. Looking over the boat you see that all you have to do it with is a keel, some sails and a rudder. You'll spend the rest of your days plying the interface of two worlds that without you are only ever opposed.