Reflections on a sailing voyage

By Solen Lees

Early morning sun on the deck, on my skin, dancing on the water.

Dolphin tails arcing tantalisingly as they swim away from the boat, a seal popping its head up to say ‘hello’, the stark white of a pair of swans against the blackness of the night time water in Whitby harbour as they circumnavigate the boat.

A sense of achievement: finally learning some knots.

Bruising on my arms: from winching, clumsiness, the pitching of the boat – or playing ‘Spoons’?

Slamming my head into the – BOOM!

Runswick Bay: bracing cold North Sea, encouragement from a stranger and my tentative wading becomes a relaxing dip and a chat.

Belly laughs at 14-year-old D. piloting the tender; we go round in anti-clockwise circles at full speed until she finally manages to steer to the right.

A warm feeling when the team spirit kicks in, when the girls are positive and ask to do something again. Joy when they smile, laugh and sing.

Witnessing transformations. New friendships formed.

Hoisting the staysail with the Bosun. The exhilaration of finally getting under sail. Real life!

Helming: feeling the force of the wind and the resistance of Faramir’s mass as I nudge the wheel to get back on course, standing with legs apart and knees bent for stability against the gentle roll as natural forces power the boat through the waves.

Humbled by the patience and sense of humour of the crew – Davide, Daithí and Mark – even when things get urgent and potentially stressful.

Awed & inspired by the youth workers, Kelly, Andi and Ashleigh. How do they do this, day in day out, with such warmth and humour, good grace, patience and empathy?

Sunset and stars – night sailing, such peace and beauty.

A lump in my throat and tears well up as, standing on deck, I viscerally realise why Laury loved this so much, remember him saying: “Mum, you should learn to sail.”

At the end, an aching body, a healthy exhaustion and a face burning after days spent in the sun.

And throughout, a connection to my son, an intangible, invisible thread linking us, a wave rolling between worlds.

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