On deck under an astonishing sky

Somewhat more than three hours of motoring over a sun-splashed sea  on the afternoon of Friday, May 10, 2024, brought Braesail and her crew of two to the end of the breakwater in the town of Friday Harbor on the eastern shore of San Juan Island. We and our fellow-owners of boats in the fleet of Anacortes Yacht Charters (AYC), were meeting for the company’s annual rendezvous weekend, which is always great fun.

Once we were safely moored and had enjoyed naps, we hiked up the docks to the shore and walked into the center of town to find a supper spot. We chose a lively pub where I could get a large salad, and there we encountered and enjoyed chatting with fellow-boaters and members of the AYC staff (during the weekend, the boat owners attempt to impress the staff with the glories of their particular boats so that they will encourage people to charter them!).

I’d read about the strong possibility of an unusually stunning display of Northern Lights later Friday night, and so I climbed onto Braesail’s deck once the sun had slipped into the sea, and spent the next two hours wandering around the boat in the pleasantly cool air with my gaze focused on the clear sky that was being sliced in the west by a silvery fingernail moon. Sure enough, by about 10 pm, thin, misty, white ghosts of light were beginning to drift across the sky in a feathery arch, more soft swirling streamers of pale lavender, pink, and green joined them in a slowly undulating dance, and people came out onto the decks of their boats and lay on their backs on the docks to enjoy the luminous ballet. I was sorry that Walt, who was very tired, had chosen to bed down for the night around 10 pm, and so missed the breathtaking show.

Shortly before midnight, when the aurora’s colors were fading and  curtains of milky gauze, through which some especially-bright stars were winking, were draping the heavens and shimmering above the lights of the town and the marina, I climbed down the companionway stairs, performed my nightly tooth-maintenance routines, and crawled into bed, so thankful that I had been blessed to witness God’s glory in this spectacular way!

Below center: Braesail “under the lights”–photo by Hannah Moon (!)