There’s nothing quite like setting your sailing ship loose in the Pacific tradewinds to gain a new appreciation for her. Wondertime has now carried us safely through inland, coastal and ocean waters nearly 7,000 miles. But it’s truly been this past 2,600 miles of sailing day after day after day with her white sails flying like wings that she’s shown us how she’s been dreaming of this trip as much as we have.
Wondertime began as a dream herself, a vision of a Mr. Paul Pfeifer who had been planning his ideal ship years before her lines were put to blueprint. I wonder if Mr. Pfeifer, back in 1978, as he sat sketching out the many details for his new boat ever put down his pencil and closed his eyes. Did he ever try to imagine the feel of the soft warm South Pacific wind on his face? The feel of his ship charging along up and down waves, mile after mile, white sails raised up to the sun? Setting foot on a distant land and smelling a frangipani tree for the very first time?
I know that while he had the boat’s hull built soon after, it took another 20 years for her to be completed. Her early years as a sailboat only saw her to Catalina Island and back to her Southern California berth, whether sailed by Mr. Pfeifer or her other owners we do not know. I hope he at least got to sail her to that distant island once. They both deserved it after so many years and dreams together.
But now, we’ve taken Wondertime to the waters she was perfectly built for. Where I’m sure Mr. Pfeifer had dreamed of sailing her. Out here, she’s become a live thing, romping through the waves, so so steady and safe and sure. If she were a girl she’d be running before the wind, her hair flying back behind her, her face pure smile. Happy, joyful. We love her for that.
And tomorrow, she gets a well deserved rest.
Total miles at noon: 2604
Miles since yesterday: 117
Miles to Hiva Oa: 87
