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My girl fiend and another sailor couple set sail from Nassau for Palm Beach, Florida across the Bahama Banks. Afternoon squalls made the decision to sail to a nearby small cay and anchor for the night. I pulled out a bottle of rum. We swapped yarns into the night.

My girl fiend didn't drink. When I started...(more) talking about how free we were from the establishment's norm, and suggested that we remove our clothing, my girl friend went to bed. We continued our uproarious conduct stark naked until strong wind and bolts of lightning ended the party.

The following morning the sky was lead gray and the ocean a sheet of glass. We headed out on the engine. A breeze came up from behind, just enough to keep the diesel fumes moving with us. I was already sick in the stomach and had a throbbing headache. Nobody spoke. We just sat there hour after hour.

At dusk, we left the bank and headed across the Gulf Stream for Florida. The breeze increased enough to put up the sails. My watch started at 3:00 A.M. I went below to get some sleep. Around 2:00 A.M. I was awakened. A storm was approaching. From horizon to horizon, a wall of lightening filled clouds was moving toward us from the northwest. We were in the strongest current of the Gulf Stream moving north. When the wind blows against it, the wave action is greater.

I'd just gotten the head sail rolled in when it hit. Bold Venture, my 37 foot sloop, rolled over, rail in the water. I quickly brought her into the wind. She righted, the sail wildly flapping and in danger of backing. I turned off the wind and over we went again. It was like walking a tight rope. After a while, it seemed there was a rhythm to the wind and sea. By the slope of the deck, I anticipated how to steer a course. The girls were below rolling in their vomit. The guy was hanging onto the stern rail for dear life. A calmness came over me. I felt in control. Tonight my brother's keeper, the night before an irresponsible jerk.

With daylight, the storm had moved to the east. We were still in strong gusts and 30 foot seas. With the center of the storm moving east, I would have been sailing more to the north. I was heading due north at the moment, in the northward moving Gulf Stream. I estimated our location far to the north of our destination and still 30 miles or more out from Florida's coast.

As we rolled over the top of a wave, I spotted smokestacks in the west and headed for them. They turned out to be those of Florida Power and Light, one mile south of Lake Worth Inlet, our destination. We arrived at the inlet at my estimated time of arrival before the storm. It was impossible, but there we were.

There we were, with seas breaking completely across the inlet. I was exhausted. My crew was not in shape to take over and wait for calmer seas. I decided to go for it. With seas breaking on both sides, we slid down the one behind into the inlet. It never broke. My crew hugged and kissed me and called it a miracle. Something bigger than my miserable, irresponsible self was working in me. It was a lesson I'll never forget.

I'd parted my old life and gone to sea for a new beginning. The experience I've related prepared me for the life I was yet to live. There have been times when things haven't gone well, and other times when they have. In the final analysis, though, life has been good. I think back and count my blessings. A force bigger than I has been with me. I've lived a charmed life and I want to give back that which has been given me.

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