The day began early, ahead of the sun. Not restlessness really, some anticipation, possibly a bit of both. The last day ashore on Nevis, in a couple of hours the skiff will push off the beach and rejoin Untethered on her mooring ball a few hundred yards offshore. Restlessness, anticipation, excitement as today the solo journey south from Nevis to St Lucia on Untethered begins. A five island hop from Nevis that is not a long journey by offshore standards, five days with overnight anchorage on Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique and then St Lucia.

Mixed excitement and trepidation as this is the first solo on Untethered. After coffee, no time is wasted in pushing off the beach and getting aboard. Preparation for casting off is slower than usual, more methodical alone. Usually many hands move quickly in preparing the boat to head to sea, all with a focus and a job to do. This morning a stillness, two feet, two hands moving about the deck. The pace is relaxed and considered in checking sails, preparing sheets, securing lines.

When all is readied, the mooring lines are dropped and the bow begins to come off the wind as lines are hauled in. The main sail is quickly unfurled, which accelerates the bow swing to the South. As the wind shifts to the beam the Stay Sail is unfurled and trimmed and the hull begins to accelerate in what is now 25knts of breeze, too much for full sails! Untethered is now heading 160 degrees and making 10knots away from the Nevis coast.

Thrilling and daunting, as the 1^st time in 50+ years of sailing the bow is pointed to open sea with no one else aboard. As if to ensure this is not easily earned, the sailing gods, Neptune or whomever rules wind and wave, elected no hall pass on this inaugural day. Despite no large systems in the forecast there appeared a system of squalls as soon as Untethered clears the south coast of Nevis. 

 The “protection” of the islands 2,000 foot volcanic peak is short lived as Untethered clears the south end of the island. No only open Atlantic to the east as the rain starts to fall and wave heights begin to grow, 6’, 8’ 10’ and with this local system comes winds that steadily rise to 28-30knts, gusting to 35knts. So begins the 5 hour duel between wind-wave-rain and hull-sail-sheets. 

The first matter at hand is managing the sail area exposed to these winds and the hull angle and heading to manage wave direction and height. This consumes all energy and attention and the boat is heavily healed to starboard as both wind and wave are on the port beam. Of course, anything not completely secured below, latched, locked or to starboard, begins to crash or bang, so now attentions above and below deck. Again, only two hands, two feet to the task and as the rush of all of this activity begins to subside a large wave over the bow/port side of the boat becomes a wall of water ensuring a soaking from head to foot.  It is at this moment, a reflection on the anticipation and excitement of the day turns to some disbelief that this was the intended goal, expectation, or hope for the day and the start to this solo journey. One can only question the goal and desire at this point…..so, whomever guides our paths sent a clear message on this day…..message received. Still Untethered….