Girls Gone Gaia

Lisa , our Captain

Gaia II preparing to sail

After a few rum drinks and watching the movie: Captain Ron, an idea was hatched that the following days sail would involve Patrick and Andy sailing Double Diamond and Lisa and Judy on Gaia. Patrick was eager to experience the Catamaran, and the girls were eager to show some women power.  Gaia is a ketch, a Whitby 42, and on this day, Lisa was the captain for sure.  We set sail from Black Point and our destination was Sampson Cay, about a 3 hour sail.  We had 15 knots of wind on a reach, the boat was heeling over nicely and the boat cat, Dobbie Fish, was purring and enjoying the ride.

At the same time DD was doing circles around the Gaia, eager to have some photo opportunities and demonstrate maneuverability. The boys were having a blast. We were also buddy sailing with two other boats, who were jumping in on the radio, reminding DD that they were now headed in the wrong direction and singing… “Slow down, you move too fast” ( 8.5 knots?) 

Well, then the wind picked up to around 20 and Gaia decided to reduce sail power.   As we attempted to haul in the genoa, we noted that it had wrapped around the furling drum, making it impossible to bring the sail in.  At that time our handheld in the cockpit died. We we had no shortage of men giving guidance over channel 16, but we could not go below to waste our time on the radio in the nav station.  Lisa jumped into action, giving Judy the helm. She said, “ just keep it on the white part of the chart, the water, and I’ll be back.” She was an amazing problem solver and had to bring the jib sheet all the way up to the bow and begin to unwind the line from the drum and bring it back to the cockpit. The sail was flailing and the land was approaching.  But we persevered. As we approached the anchorage, we were being hailed on the radio by the yacht behind us, so we climbed down to the nav station, Roger that!

We anchored the boat under Lisa's calm directions and then we toasted a truly significant event!