I was sailing south on the Atlantic Ocean. Just three miles offshore from Virginia Beach. There was a nice breeze off my starboard quarter (right rear corner). The wind and current were both flowing south, making this a nice gentle sail.
I knew this wasn’t going to last. The forecast said the winds would drop to be very light and then become much stronger overnight. So, I did my best to enjoy the moment.
There wasn’t a sunrise to speak of. I mean, the sun did rise… but the anticipated orange and red glow never happened. The sky was filled with low laying flat grey clouds. Rather than being overcast, I refer to this as a high-level fog. It was to dissipate through the morning.
Nothing changed much in the next few hours. I was patiently watching the shoreline slowly slide by as I continued sailing south.
It was 10 am now. The clouds were thinner. There were even small patches of blue sky showing. The sun was starting to poke through. The winds started to die down. At least the current was still helping to push me south.
I really wanted to be at Currituck Beach around 3 pm. So, I started the engine to motorsail. When running the engine slightly, the boat generates its own wind; like riding a bike. The wind was coming from the northwest; behind the boat. Using the engine slightly moves the wind in the sails forward because that northwest wind combines with the boat-generated wind coming from the front. When this happens, the sails have more power. Distant Horizon was maintaining her speed.
Personal Request Fulfilled
This was the first day of my long-awaited sailing adventure. Before actually starting the adventure, I had one personal task that needed to be done. My wife, Linda, had requested her ashes to be spread in the ocean within view of one of the outer banks’ lighthouses.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse is the first outer banks lighthouse when you’re sailing south on the Atlantic Ocean. Linda and I had visited and climbed this lighthouse several times. So, it was here that I would fulfill her wish.
I was sailing Distant Horizon to Currituck Beach before heading towards the Caribbean.
The time went slowly. I wasn’t sure if it was because I wanted to get going on my adventure, or if I was struggling with this final goodbye. The weather was constant all day. A thin overcast covered the sky. Light winds from the northwest… too light for sailing. So, I was still motorsailing. Small 1-2 foot waves mostly going in the same direction as I.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
Distant Horizon finally arrived at Currituck Beach around 5:30 pm. The sun was setting. The boat was positioned for a nice view… I said a prayer… and dispersed Linda’s remains as I said my final farewell. I sat there… drifting for a few minutes to take it all in. I was happy to do this with a nice sunset.
Sunset at Currituck Beach
Linda’s final words to me were, “Now, go have fun!”. So, following her orders as a good husband, I turned east. The next leg of this journey would be reaching and then crossing the Gulf Stream. Little did I know, this would be the last sunset I’d see for many days.