Wave splashes to
ashes, Wind gusts to dust
I walked back along the pontoon dock, it was getting late,
and the docks were calm and quiet. A small black dog came as to greet me as I
headed towards Xplore.
The night had no wind and as I looked forward along the dock
with this small dog closely following me I could see moored behind Xplore a
small yacht that had arrived earlier in the day. On the dock stood a man and by
his feet were two burner pots with a gentle flame flickering in each, giving a
surreal glow to his boat and gentle shadows that moved and changed with the
flames.
I came to pass him, and we said good evening, I could easily
tell he wasn’t French, but from where I couldn’t say quickly enough. I
commented at the robustness of his little yacht, it was a very smart and a
well found boat. Our discussion on the dock as with most sailors do, turned to
the design of our boats and were we had come from, and to where we were going.
He looked along the docked and asked about Xplore, and I
mentioned that it was designed in the UK by David Thomas. The old man went
quiet, I wondered if I had offended him in some way ? but he quickly continued
with a smiling glee to explain that his yacht, just 24 feet long was also
designed by David Thomas, small world.
Even though late, I invited him on board, as he was
impressed with Xplore’s stature, we continued talking. I asked him why he was
burning the two portable cookers on the dock and he explained that the stove
fuel that he had bought in the UK was not good. It was alcohol fuel commonly
used on small sailing boats, but the fuel he had, had additives so that people
on shore wouldn’t drink it, but for him it was impossible to use for cooking as
it filled his boat with strange fumes, so he was burning it off outside to get
rid of it.
As a lover of dogs I had suggested that his small puppy
visit Xplore as well, so as we talked and I gave him a brief tour of the boat,
I remembered that I had bought a quantity of alcohol in South America before we
departed, we use it a lot when we are cleaning and doing maintenance. As a gesture
I offered him a spare bottle for his stove. He quickly removed the top and
sniffed the contents, duss is zer gut, he promptly said, giving away his German
back ground.
We joked and shared a few sailing stories as it came out
that I had been sailing in Antarctica and the south for the last 11 years, I
said to him that I have always jokingly say that when I get tired of sailing
that I would become a dog farmer, that is to breed boat dogs, ones that are
suitable and smart enough for a life at sea. His ears pricked up at this and he
explained that his wonderful old little dog was just that, a breed of dog
designed for boats dating back many years so as to be small enough and fast to
be able to catch rats onboard ships. A “Schipperke” they are called originally
from Belgium / Flanders.
I could tell that he was tired, and his burners on the dock
were getting lower, but he insisted that I have a brief look at his boat. How
could I resist, such an interesting boat, a junk rigged sloop and oh so small
compared to Xplore, but you could tell that it was so well maintained and
strongly built that it had in so many ways a similar feel to my boat.
We parted after exchanging names and addresses, but he asked
me to visit the next day so he could write some details down to email David
Thomas in the UK, he knew the designer quite well as client and as a friend.
Back on board I wondered about this dear older man as I had a night cap of
wine, where was he sailing to I didn’t know, but you could tell from our talks
that he had done quite a lot of miles, sometimes from sailor to sailor you just
know that.
Daylight streamed through my port hole window and another
day commenced, time here in Brest seems to have become so busy in these last
few weeks that I often feel its more relaxing and easier to be out at sea. But
by the end of the day I walked down the dock with a cold can of beer to see him
and to look at three of the Pen Duick yachts that had tied up in the marina.
He asked me to come on board his boat, named Golden Wind
from a Japanese saying which matches very well with his colourful Junk sail
which he has hand painted. He opened his journal book and asked me to write a
note about Xplore, he had already glued my card in place and I wrote a short
note. As I wrote he rummaged through a locker and explained that he had a small
gift for me, I said that I didn’t need anything but he handed me a bottle of liqueur
and explained that he was pleased to give me the gift as thanks for the bottle
I had to him the night before. I smiled and thought how the two bottles had
contents the same colour, clear fluid, one to drink and one to cook with, it
was cherry schnapps.
I stepped out into the cockpit as we shook hands, he was
explaining that he was sailing over to the United States as there was a
foundation there that had been set up as a sail training base for delinquent youth
and that he was going to donate his boat to them. I seemed surprise, but the
words from his mouth flowed out to me without further a do to explain that he
was dying, and he didn’t even know if he would reach there. The cancer he had,
he knew would bring him soon to an end, and he hated the smell of hospitals and
nursing homes, so he had transferred all is wealth to his wife there in
Germany, and with her blessing he was setting off for his last voyage.
My eyes became watery, but the atmosphere between us was
strong, I couldn’t argue with his logic, it actually made a lot of sense to me,
one sailor to another, not much was needed to be said.
I woke early, earlier than normal, light from outside was
barely visible as I heated the kettle for a nice cup of tea. I stepped out on
deck, it was 5.30am and I strolled up onto the break water. There were a few
people fishing, and a few youths weaving along the concrete, still saying Bon
soir, as I was saying Bon jour, and there just outside the break water was
Golden Wind, Hans was on deck making ready for sea, the light was soft with
some clearing clouds. I called out loud his name and waved a farewell, bon
voyage my friend.
Stephen
Golden Wind
Hans
