Katie Moraglia
(inducted 2011)
Dear King Neptune -
I would like to be inducted into the Blue Water Society. Here is why:
“Become Your Dream” I kept seeing this saying as I walked home from work in Manhattan. I first saw it spray painted on a box in a garbage pile. I stopped and took a picture. And then I saw it again and again: on a discarded mattress, and then on a sidewalk.... I took a picture of each sighting. So was some force telling me something? Is there something else I should be doing?
When Jim Hedleston asked me to do a delivery from Newport to the BVI’s in October of 2009, maybe this was the “Dream to Become” I was ecstatic. But then a four letter word ruined the day; “work” I couldn’t go. I enviously tracked their position, wind speed and direction, seas, and Capt. Jim’s daily E mail chronicles. I wanted to be there so badly. I wondered what I was doing working here in the Operating Room when I could be out there. I decided that no matter what, I would be doing the next delivery to come my way.
I have
sailed boats in the BVI’s, French West Indies, St. Vincent’s and the Grenadines,
and Greece. Mostly with friends going from island to island, partying and
“living” a dream. I have done a coastal delivery from Stonington, CT to the
Bronx when everything broke; engine, head, headsail, but the night sailing was
the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, in the Bronx. I have done open ocean
deliveries on a 100Ft. Motor Yacht and an 84Ft. Motor Yacht. I have my OUPV
license. But this next delivery would be my first Blue Water delivery on a
sailboat and I imagined that it was going to be the best of them all.
On May 5, 2010, at 1300 aboard Stagger Lee, (47ft Oceanus) we left Leverick Bay, Virgin Gorda for the 1500 mile trip to Stonington, CT. The crew was Jim, Michael, Nicole, Jean Yves and me. After a slight delay due to a faulty water pump (thank God for debriefings) we set sail with winds averaging 9-11knots and BS 6-7knots. We flew the Asymmetrical until we hit Anegada. We would rotate watches with 3hrs on/3hrs off/3hrs on/6hrs off. I had trouble for the first 2 days sleeping (too much adrenalin I suppose), but once I got into the groove (& really tired) it became easier and easier to go right to sleep after a watch. We took turns cooking meals (our watches and meal assignments posted).
Excerpts from my journal:
5/7/10 winds 12-14 knots, BS 7-8. Skies were clear; stars were incredibly beautiful, sunrises phenomenal. We hooked 2 Ma-hi Ma-hi, one of them won, the other we had for dinner. The colors of the fish were another incredible sight. Jean Yves knows how to cook a fish.
5/9/10 Autopilot is broken, no wind, motoring for 2+ days, burning fuel, will we have enough? The answer (The Daily Double) Jim put all his resources together to come up with a decision. I have learned that preparation is the key to a successful voyage. Technology in this case, utilizing the Grib files for weather, a company hired to analyze the weather; wind, waves, etc., calculating how much the engine burn rate was at our RPM’s, etc, along with input form the crew gave us the winning answer. We kept going for the Gulf Stream as opposed to going into Bermuda.
5/10/10 Weather has really changed. Cold front moving SE to Bermuda. On the night watch lightning and thunder storms racing across the horizon. I’ve never seen such lightning. We reefed the sails 2X, had a storm Jib up. We ended up right inside one of the storms, dropped the main, as the Windex was spinning, lightning so bright with the black sky behind it was quite spooky. Post storm wind 20-22knots, waves 7-8. Reefed the main, awesome sailing.
5/11/10: Crazy waves, wind 18-21knots.
5/12/10: huge front to the north. We will be going through the Gulf Stream in a front. Winds 30-40 knots, 7-9 ft seas. I decide I should get some good sleep, but hit my head when I got up for a blanket. Wow that hurt. Speaking about “becoming”, I have become “something” on this trip. I haven’t showered or washed hair in 6 days and still wearing the same cloths for 3. Stowing everything anticipating the GS.
5/12/10 1820: OMG, Waves 8-9 ft aft, wind 31 knots, BS 10knots. I drove most of my watch. It was totally awesome, but scary as hell. Waves aft, on the side, on the bow; crazy
5/13/10: GS, before reporting for watch, I checked the AIS as always, I saw us on a collision course with a tanker. The guys on deck had just seen it too. I got on the radio to establish our position and inform them that we would alter course to starboard. We had to take off the preventer in order to Gibe. Jim drove like a bat out of hell to avoid any contact with the tanker and stuck to the helm like glue.
It took close to 18 hours to get through the GS, calmer seas.
Sleeping below during this delivery was another exhilarating experience; either you listened to the engine or to the boat breaking through the waves. The Bose Earphone really helped me.
My second trip was from Newport, RI to Virgin Gorda, again on Stagger Lee. This trip was very special since I almost was not able to go due to my Mother’s illness. But the weather delay allowed me to do the trip, thank God. After spending weeks in a hospital tending to my mother I needed to see heaven again. We again had a crew of 5, Jean Yves, Jim, Myself, Eric and Ben. Another great crew and another set of experiences. On this trip I did “become” my dream. I experienced the joys and the bad feelings that come with sailing. I felt like I experienced the hand of God when the light of the moon was so strong that I got a sudden warmth all over me as I was at the Helm. I made a wish on every shooting star and on some nights it was like all the stars were falling out of the sky.
Highlights of both trips:
1. Dolphins- for hours lots of dolphins came to swim with us. It was an exhilarating experience that made me feel like a child. They were pure joy to watch. The dolphins on the second trip were blue, unlike the grey ones on the first.
Sailing downwind with 25-30 knots of wind in 6-8 ft swells - SOG 10knots - excellent work out - total exhilaration.
Elements- Lightning, Squalls, darkness, Moon, Sunrise, sunset, the colors of the ocean, the stillness of the ocean, the anger of the ocean, the fog.
The peace and tranquility. Being alone out there.
The Crew - What a handful of wonderful people. We were a family for 2 weeks. We depended on each other for survival. Food, drink, support, expertise, empathy, everything. I learned a great deal from every one of the crew from sailing techniques to life experiences. We know each one’s strengths and weaknesses. It was a special time.
The Food: J & T did a great job provisioning the boat on both trips. Some of the foods that their friends on the islands so graciously contributed, like the Stromboli, were not big hits. But most of it was awesome. I learned a lot about what to have and not to have on a delivery. For instance when you have Frenchmen on the boat, have more fresh veggies and garlic. Cabbage is great because it lasts the entire trip. (and you really need it). Meals to remember: Erik’s Provolone/salami turkey/RB sandwich, Ben’s BBQ beef/sautéed Cauliflower, T’s Lasagna, Jean Yves Mahi Mahi, and everything else he made like the fried spaghetti, and cabbage salad. Not to mention the “Stromboli”.
It takes special qualities to be able to be out on the open ocean, over 700 miles from shore. I believe I have the qualities as did all of the crew I sailed with for those 2 trips. A Blue Water sailor must be adaptable, dependable, can work under extreme conditions, can work while tired, can get along with others, and can live without showering days on end. They must have fortitude, improvisational skills, must pay attention to detail and not take anything for granted and have the ability to stay calm under pressure; they must leave the ego on land.
I have always known, but now have confirmed that there is no place like the Blue Water of the open ocean. For a brief moment in time I have “Become My Dream”. Next mission is to “Keep” it.
Thank You for your consideration.
Sincerely, Capt. Katie Moraglia, CCP