The HEA Cafe

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I’ve said before in this blog how much I enjoy the research for my books.  But there’s research, and then there’s research.

Some time ago I donated one of my books to the local Bar Association as a door prize (my husband’s an attorney).  The winner was a judge who’s also a life-long sailor, and he invited me to go out on his boat some time.  It was a much appreciated invitation, because I am an armchair sailor and there’s nothing like the real deal to make writing come alive.

We were finally able to arrange it, and this week I got to go out into the the Atlantic on the 32 ft. sloop Liberty with Captain Vic and his wife, First Mate Ellen.  And I’m not using those titles in jest–Captain Vic does have his captain’s license, as well as being a long time member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and it was clear from their interaction that his wife Ellen was used to crewing at his side.

I was well prepared with enough sunscreen to shield a vampire, my guaranteed-not-to-fly-off hat and my notepad. Oh, and ginger candy just in case.

But everything was perfect. We had to cut our outing a bit short because of the typical Florida afternoon thunderstorms. We wouldn’t have minded the rain, but the lightning’s another story.

I was given a tour of the boat, an explanation of the lines and rigging, a crash course on how to use the radio for emergency calls, and  we were underway.

Modern sailboats come equipped with small motors, which made it easier to get in and out of the marina, but once we were out on the water the wind took over and off we went, out of the inlet and over the bar that’s protected St. Augustine from raiders for centuries, but also kept it from becoming a shipping center. We sailed out into the Atlantic and I got to haul on lines, take the helm and learn a little about reading the compass and navigating out of the inlet and past the city.

We saw a number of Homeland Security boats out on the water, and it looked like they were doing exercises.  We also had a dolphin following us for a time when we were near the city walls.  I don’t know if she worked for Homeland Security or not.

The weather was perfect in the morning–light, steady wind, small chop, and nothing ahead but nautical miles of ocean. I also learned there was a sulfur spring off of Crescent Beach that I would have loved to visit, but we didn’t have time on this trip due to the afternoon storms.

When we brought the Liberty about and came back in to the city I saw the Castillo de San Marcos from the waterside, just as pirates, privateers, rum-runners and other nautical riff-raff have seen it for hundreds of years.

It was an absolutely splendid day, and I hope to do it again soon!  Reading books for research is all well and good, but being able to take a day to go sailing and call it work…well, that’s why I love my job!