When she arrived and her things she brought with her were put away and she was made comfortable. Her "companion" had kept her to himself for the past 3 months and spent time away from friends and work just to be with her. That was not hard to understand. $2.2 million is what it took to have her. That was what I was told in confidence. That was not counting what she needed to be happy and keep her in the style that she was accustomed too. That much money, and the necessary resourcs were "just part of the deal". I looked at her, stared, and I wanted to walk over and  . . . . peel back the last bit of fabric that concealed her and I wanted to see "all" of her. The curves without anything covering her, and her softest smoothest parts. I didn't have any money compared to her "companion" but I am a man . . with skill . . .  mmmm . ..

My host came over and introduced himself as I stood there admiring her. We were going to be underway in about an hour. His $2,2 million dollar mistress is an Trippdesign 80ft sailing yacht. Two-point-two million dollars was what it cost to bring her into the world. That's not counting the extras like "thermo-molded sails", latest Nav equipment, or the patte' for the galley and the Cordon Bleu' chef that would be with us this weekend. This boat was built to circumnavigate and keep you in style. The interior as beautifully designed as the lines of the boat.

I wrote about "The Dungeon" that was clandestinely built in Gene's building in Santa Monica. Gene and his partner, Lance, live in Newport Beach. I met the man who is currently the Navigator for this boat through Gene. He invited me here for the weekend and introduced me to the man who owns this beautiful yacht.  I learned how to navigate in the Marines and have kept up my skills. I've always been fascinated by being able to steer a course out of sight from anything familar. I read every sailing story and best remember my history classes where explorers took off into the unknown, with zero point of reference. I've navigated desserts, and unknown terrain, once or twice in the Mediterranean and Agean.  

The Captain had previously owned a 47ft. yacht.  He had accompanied her delivery from launch and gotten instruction and advice. The past three months had been orientating himself to bigger boats, the latest equipment and putting together a crew.

We were underway by 8:00 am and in blue water shortly. Gene and Lance were doing their best "I am king of the world" impressions from Titanic, until the spray hit them as they stood like the Leo and Kate on the bow.  They retreated to looking over the Captains shoulder and sipping coffee . . . .

The Navigator spoke crisply and explained what he was doing and why. I was quiet and when I answered a question he asked, it was to see if I spoke the lingo and understood what he was saying. He refilled our cups of coffee and I got a look that I passed, I at least had enough knowledge that he could really teach me something. I made notes on questions I had. There was no time to get into explainations or answer one question and then the three more the answer made me think of. Since I was learning, I made notes and then tried the calculations, reading the data and trying to anticipate the information the Captain asked for regarding weather conditions and reports, coastal manisfestations, not just the points on the compass. My acquaintance/friend enjoyed teaching and when I thought of one thing, he told me the second . . . and third . . and fourth . . . things that I needed to get used to anticipating.  I'm well schooled and better experienced in my navigation skills, and this was overwhleming. Much much more than I expected.

We had been out for over two hours before I got the time to really look around and watch the crew. Her Captain was capable and we had a wonderful day. Returning  is not just the reverse of going out. You determine the information again and compare and adjust. I was invited for dinner and was only referred to as the FNG until I was introduced to the rest of the crew. The current Navigator will be racing and not always available and I was offered the opportunity to learn and maybe become part of her crew.  That discussion was as overwhelming as trying to keep up with what the Navigator was telling me early in the day.

Its easy to see why people get so emotional about sailing, competing and putting so much effort into it. I plan on buying a tiny boat and learning the skills to sail. My opporutnity was based on what I learned in the Marines and being fortunate enough to be offered a position of responsibility.

G.

P.S.  I don't get paid for this, but do it for the "experience" of it, the fun and opportunity to be on such a boat, and to have responsibility. Why is it that is considered a foolish thing? Not every friend feels that way, but some,that I see less and less of just shake their head.