It has been more than thirty years since I last found myself on a sailing ship off the east coast of the United States. Or anywhere. The sensations on board the schooner Mercantile were familiar.
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Standing on the deck with several tons of wood and steel beneath my feet driven through the ocean by the power of the wind filling the canvas over head.
There is no sound except for the occasional ruffle of sailcloth, the water parting on either side of the ship, and the creaking of the hull that has been cutting through these waters since 1916.
Most of that time the ship was used to haul cargo. In recent decades it carries passengers through time.
Every task on board is performed by hand, muscle, and toil. Ropes and pulleys and cranks.
Each movement is performed with precision. Each order is repeated before execution to guard against potentially dangerous mistakes.
It is a neat trick to harness the wind to manage the sea. No matter your skill, the challenge is always unique and the momentary success leaves you feeling bigger than you are as a small dot on a very large deep blue canvas.
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© Dean Pagani 2023