About five years ago two friends and I decided to enter a mini triathalon at Walt Disney World. Voraciously we'd bike, swim, and walk on a regular basis for several months leading up to the event. It was the weekly walks on the beach with Sherry that made me turn my dream into a reality. Both of us talked incessantly about cruising around the world. She wanted a mate, I wanted to go solo.
Lo and behold by summer's end she found her perfect mate while I struggled with a loving husband who believed my going it alone would be suicide. Still, I persisted with my goal. Ever so slowly I saved some money but was continually distracted as well as dissuaded by his rationale. Sherry, on the other hand, married her dream boat, Dave as they set sail aboard S/V Soggy Paws. Now, in their fifth year I am selfishly happy to have them home for the holidays. I say selfishly because I wanted them to validate my Marples 35 TRI as a seaworthy vessel. They did. In fact, Dave is helping me rig a simplified anchoring system. More on that in another blog entry.
Watching Dave and Sherry present their cruising adventures at the Seven Seas Cruising Association's GAM, then again for a special presentation for the members of Melbourne Yacht Club I became overwhelmed with emotion. Their relationship on and off the boat make them an ideal couple. Then, I was privileged to crew for Sherry on her old racing boat, Fast Lane, when she made time for a guest appearance at a local women's race. In fact, before her and Dave took off she had sold Fast Lane. The new owner let me race it for two years. So, it was a nice reunion. More important though was that I began to see Sherry in a new light.
Soon, I know I will no longer be in awe of her, rather I'll be one of her cruising colleagues. It's only five more months until I set sail. In the meantime, take time to get to know Sherry and Dave via their website: www.svsoggypaws.com
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