Alone Together: Sailing Solo to Hawaii and Beyond

by Christian Williams

I know what it is. It’s the first of the nevers. Never been this far offshore alone before.

Funny how a cookie has no appeal. And I never get seasick. The ship’s clock is broken, it doesn’t even move.

It’s glorious to be doing what I said I would do.

I believe in keeping the garbage, and believing makes me feel better, and get more done.

A wheel not only makes for a clutter-free yachting environment, but places the owner in a commanding position aft, from which he gazes upon boat and crew like the guy who wrote the check.

There’s pleasure in seeing the jury dismissed, and to plead direct to whatever gods there are.

Here, alone in a calm, provisional selves are unnecessary. All we need is one. Do you feel it? It feels like it takes no effort to exist. But without effort, who are we? Night is falling and squalls will come. We will sail east, or maybe have to turn north again. Home is too far away to think about, and Kaua’i left behind in a dream. Here is all there is. A minute, an hour, a day are all the same. Never mind latitude and longitude, “now” is our current location. We and the boat and the stars aren’t parts, but the whole. We exist with no explanation required.