“Preacher, the Rabbi sailed down the ICW…” Came Smokey’s voice over the radio. “… He has no sailing experience!!!  He’s gonna get himself and all of us killed.   We are all gonna DIE!!!… My crew and I are turning back right now.”   

“Smokey, I’ve made this trip many times.   We’ve had some head winds for three days, and we are goi’n against the gulf stream current, but it should get better soon as the winds change, and we head down the windward passage… Don’t know, what ya think…” Explained the Captain.

My blood rose to a level I had never experienced before.  I was at a loss for words.   Then a memory came to me; I was about 5 years old.  My Grandma was there staring at me with tears in her eyes while I as playing.  I was entertaining my self as I always did, when I got tired of playing with my toys;   I carved out a piece of wood into the shape of a boat, and spent hours rigging a little sailboat.   I was not satisfied until it was so perfectly balanced that it could actually sail on its own.   And sail it did, as I lost all of the sailboats I made because I had no way of turning them back when I put them in the ocean…

“Your Grandfather would have loved you…” I recall my grandma’s words.   “He had a three mast schooner, and he always wanted a son to teach him how to sail… He never had a son, and he died long before you were born… When your mon was still a girl…” She continued.  “And here you are, making sailboats that work, and no one has ever taught you how to do that…   It’s as if your Grandfather is in you…”

I then remember  how thrilling it was later as a teenager, getting into a real sailboat, and actually controlling it for the first time, as if I had done it all my life.  

… Perhaps I was in such shock, that I temporarily shut down to moments in my childhood.

Then I came to my senses and thought:  “Wait a minute!!! This trip has nothing to do with my sailing ability…”

“Captain,” I interjected, “I’m not sure why we’re talking on a side Channel, discussing things that affect everyone.  And by the way, we are not here because of our sailing abilities; we are here because G-d called us to go on this journey to bring Torah to Haiti… And Smokey,”  I continued, “We are not going to die! Ad-nai is with us.”

“There’s a storm coming!!!” Shouted Smokey, “You’al can go’n and die.   We are turning this vessel around and heading back.  My crew is 100% behind me!”

After everything we had suffered and even lost, here we were so close…

“Smokey! It’s not the storms going forward that we need to be worried about, it’s the storms we’ll face going backwards that concern me…”

To be continued

Barracuda

We sailed for a couple of days on the grand Bahama Bank, then we encountered the effects of the Gulf Stream.   There, your vessel may be moving over the water at 5 knots, but with a 2 and at times 3 knots current against you, you are actually only traveling at about 2 knots.   Motoring through this long stretch would waste much fuel, so sailing patiently is the key.  Now, if in addition to this current you have head winds, you are forced to make wide tacks between the Bahamas and Cuba, traveling some 20 miles to gain 5 or 6.  Well, you guessed it; head winds it was.  

After 72 hours of tacking we were all thrilled to see that Grande Inagua was only one day away. There, we would stop to get some provisions, and get some much needed rest.  In addition, from Grande Inagua we would head out of the Gulf Stream down the windward passage into Haiti.   We had traveled two thirds of the most difficult part of the journey. The rest would be easy and even enjoyable.

Behind us there seemed to be lots of excitement on Hazak.   After days of trolling, Andre’s fishing pole curved violently, as the drag on his reel screamed.   He reeled and reeled, arched back, and reeled some more. The battle went on for quite some time.   Then came the news over the radio: “Mom!… I just caught  a BARRACUDA!!!”

Captain Raymond decided we should all anchor for a while to celebrate our five day accomplishment.  We were pretty spent at this point, but Captain, a seasoned sailor who had made this passing countless times, knew there was good cause to celebrate.

“Rabbi, this crossing has taken me 12 days… We have done exceptionally well. Praise Adonaia!” Cheered the Captain.

By now all four vessels were gathering and dropping anchor.  Noah began taking out our mask and fins, and everyone began changing into their bathing suits.   The water looked like something out of paradise.  Although we were in 15 feet depths, the water was so clear, we could see the reef full of colorful marine life beneath us.

Yod Hey came slowly past us and got close to La Victoria.  Smoky stood on the bow frantically waving his hands as if trying to send an emergency signal to Captain.  Something didn’t feel right…   We could see both Smoky and Captain speaking on the radio, but we could not hear the transmission.  This could only mean they went dark… (Changing to an unmentioned Chanel to have a private conversation…)

Lisa began scanning through the radio channels… Then she looked at me.   “They’re on Channel ten…” She said with a concerned voice.       

Nothing we had suffered up to this point, could have prepared us for what was about to happen.

To be continued

MIA

Once again every crew member on each vessel ran to the orders of each captain as we prepared to set sail.   Before our anchor was pulled up, something caught the side of my eye.  A reef sailed past our stern.  Sure enough, it was Rambo Ray, dressed in camouflage with a  scarf blowing in the wind.  

“Go! Go! Go! Go!!!”  I shouted to the crew, holding the muddy anchor chain in my hands.  One by one all five vessels headed out of Marathon.    Hazak’s motor stopped running suddenly, so we pulled it behind Aleph Tav.

Several adjustments had to be made to the crews prior to our departure.   La Victoria lost Captain Raymond’s son in law Ben, who decided to crew on Cimeron.   She also lost Matt, the Pizza maker, who decided to return to Steinhatchee to make pizzas.  A young man named Kaile, interested in mission work, came and joined La Victoria’s crew.

Aleph Tav lost Andre and Karah who now had to crew their own vessel.   Our nephew Zachary promptly accepted the invitation to join us.   He had no funds to fly in to Marathon, but he stepped out on faith, and once again Ad-nai provided…

There were no changes on Yod Hey’s crew. 

Off we went, sails raised high and heeling to starboard.   Even Hazak who was under tow, raised her sails proudly.   We were thrilled.    Although we had traveled for over two months just to get to this point, THIS moment felt as if it was the very beginning of our journey.   We were leaving the US, and heading to Haiti with a 150 year Torah scroll that survived the haulocost.

Night fell and the last faint lights of the the United States vanished behind us.  At about 2am the gentile shush of the hull moving over the waves was interrupted by a call over the radio.   “Cimeron, Cimeron,  do you copy!… Over.”

It was Captain Raymond.   I had dosed off and didn’t realize Captain had been hailing Cimeron for somtime with no response.

A faint fuzzy message came all broken up: “… 30 miles off course… (fuzz)…Fell asleep… Trying to get bearing….”

“Cimeron, what is your lat and long?” Asked Captain.

“…(fuzz).. Off course (fuzz)..”

“Cimeron, your lat and long!!! What’s your lat and long?” Insisted the Captain.

“…(fuzz)…” The radio went silent.

Without knowing their position, we had no way of helping or even sending them help, especially in international waters.  As time passed, our only hope and prayer was that Cimeron turned back.

To be continued

The old sailor attached the halyard line to the back of our dingy.   “Ok, now pull slowly at first, then increase the pressure as the boat begins to lean.” He instructed.  

The principal was actually rather simple, and in fact we had successfully attempted a similar maneuver with Aleph Tav, when we leaned her under a bridge.   Only this time, it was to raise Hazak’s keel off the bottom.    I began pulling the halliard line gently, then with a bit more pressure as Hazak began to lean over.   Then the dreaded unthinkable… Snap, snap, snap!!! All three shrouds on the starboard side snapped in unison, and the mast came toward me in an uncontrollable freefall.

Andre managed to jump and hurdle over all the cables and lines that whipped in every direction across the deck.   The old sailor with his hands raised to heaven, shouted obscenities.   I just buried my head into the palm of my tired hands and asked:  “Why…”

Hazak was now not only stuck, she was demasted.   A mess of tangled cables and lines laid on the water, the boom was snapped in two, and the mast slowly began to vanish into the deep.    The old sailor helped us pull the tangled mess out of the water and onto the deck. “Sorry guy, that wasn’t suppose to happen…” He mumbled as he floated off on his dingy.  And so, yet a new project was added to the list.   New shrouds, as well as front and back stays, for Hazak. 

Finally the day came.   A good weather window opened up and every one scrambled to wrap up last minute projects.

“Maa gaash Rabbi, what do you recon’ we go’n do with Rambo Ray?  He’s fix’n to sail into Haiti with us, and he’s serious…!”

“Can his boat make that crossing?…”  I asked

“Says it can… Don’t know Rabbi, he’s convinced he has been sent on a special op mission to protect us, or some nonsense like that.” Continued Captain.

“Cimeron, Cimeron, Cimeron… This is Cimeron, calli’n La Victoria on this 07 civilian line.   Do you copy? Over…”  Came a voice over the radio.

“Gaash… There he is right now!… Go head!”  Responded Captain

“Pastor, I just wanted to let you know my sources told me every one has checked out affirmative, but I’m telli’n  you right now, I’m not risking my life for those psychotic ungrateful evil Justin and Chelsea kids, or that delusional Smokee old idiot!… If they compromise the mission, I’ll turn them into fish food first chance I get! Cimeron, Cimeron, Cimeron standing by on this maritime 07… out.”

It was Rambo Ray on the radio.   For some reason, he had a very strong dislike for Yod Hey and her crew, and he was not timid about it.

The next day, I went for a dingy ride to admire the beautiful vessels anchored all around us.   I’ve always been fascinated by the design and rigging of sailboats.   Way down at the end of the harbor, there where several abandoned boats laying on their side at low tide.    Near them was an old boat with several other small boats attached to it.   The boat had rust stains running down it’s side where the shrouds came into the deck, and the hull was incased in three inches of marine life.   Several friendly dogs and a fat cat emerged out of the companion way to greet me.  On the stern was a faint hand painted name, it read Cimeron.

To be continued

It was difficult to conceal the reason for Andre’s sudden and mysterious boat restoration for much longer.   I finally let Lisa in on the conversation I had with Andre, and she did what Moms do; she voiced her concern and did her best to bring us all back to reality.   But at times, when faith is activated, even Moms cannot avoid the inevitable.  

Moved by Andre and Kerah’s determination to our mission in Haiti, a beautiful congregation, friends and anonymous donors were lead to offer the funds necessary to purchase the vessel, and they became the happy owners of a 30ft Coranado.   Hazak (strength in Hebrew) was added to the fleet.  

There was now even more work to accomplish before our journey, and even more funds needed and once again, every last penny needed was provided.

It was amazing to see G-d providing for all our needs, yet at times it seemed as if some unseen force was throwing us curveballs at every turn.  Like the time when the owner of a used boat parts shop ordered a rare pulley for Captain Raymond’s water pump.   After the part was delayed for weeks, the shipment finally arrived on the very day that the poor fellow decided  to end it all by jumping off a bridge.   The pulley was sent back for more delays and had to be resent to a business that suddenly ceased to exist.  

Then there was the time when we decided to move Hazak close to Aleph Tav so we could work on her.  It was to be a very simple dingy tow in a very calm harbor.    All was well until I towed the vessel across a poorly marked portion of the harbor and Hazak came to a sudden stop.   I tried pulling her in every direction for hours, but no go; we could not free the helpless vessel from the mud.  Frustrating, but the solution was simple: wait about seven hours for the next high tide. 

All would have been just fine, but then came another one of those curve balls.   While preparing to head back to Aleph Tav, an old sailor showed up on a dingy.   His skin was dark from years of being in the sun, and his hair was curled by the salty sea.  He had a gold ring through his ear and his eyes were bright blue. “Your doing it all wrong! Trust me, I’ve been at this all my life.   There’s a way to free that boat, and it’s not the way your doing it.”  He instructed.

“Ah… It’s ok.  We’ll just wait for high tide.”  I answered hoping to be left alone.   But the man persisted. 

“Here!… Take that halyard line and attach it to the dingy.” The old sailor instructed as he pointed to our mast.

“It’s ok, we’ll be fine in a few hours.” I answered.

“You really need to learn to do this regardless, because some day you may not have a height tide to help you… Here! Just hand me that halyard line and I’ll attach it to the dingy!” He persisted with his hand extended to receive the halyard line.  Andre handed him the Halyard line…

To be continued

At Marathon, what was to have been several days turned to several weeks, due to the inaccessibility of parts in the area.   More over, without a vehicle, we had to walk 40 minutes to get a simple screw, or pay to take a cab at every turn.  

Meanwhile a new development arose.  Andre and Kerah went to see the vessel that the young couple had rejected.  To our surprise, the sailboat had a lot of potential, and the price was a steal.  

“What are we going to do Dad?  This boat is so perfect for me and Kerah.   It will allow us to travel to Haiti, and will provide us with a home once we are there so we can focus on the orphanage projects without worrying where to live.   …and the price is so amazing Dad, but we have ministered on tour for almost two years and have no money.”  Explained Andre in frustration.  

As a Dad, I so desired to give Andre and Kerah the funds they needed, but now more than ever, I had nothing to give, except… some  Kingdom advise:   “Tell the owner you will be purchasing the vessel, then begin to clean it.  Repair what is damaged, and prepare it for the journey.   If you believe, do the part that is possible.  What is impossible, El Shaddai (G-d will provide).

Later that evening, Lisa and I enjoyed some alone time watching the peaceful boats anchored in the harbor.   The sun lighting up the water and sky with a warm fiery red, opening the scene for a perfect romantic moment.   A wisp of Lisa’s hair came across her cheek.  I smiled as my heart skipped a beat.   Then she opened her lips to speak: “…I am sooo glad those two don’t have the money to buy some dumb boat.”  She said with a sigh of relief.

“…boat?!” I exclaimed as that preverbal needle scratched across the record in my mind. Oops, I mean: as the MP3 file froze up in my head… Oh, never mind.  

“Well, They sure don’t have any money right now…”  I answered doing my best to avoid the subject.

“Can you imagine Andre out there in that huge ocean all by himself? with Kerah?!…”  Continued Lisa.

“Well…You shouldn’t really worry about that at this time…”   I responded.

“What do you mean, ‘I shouldn’t really worry about that at THIS time???’  Peter!… Look at me! What is the matter with you? Do you think it’s ok for Andre to be out there in that ocean? In a boat? With Kerah?” She demanded.

“No… Uh… Well, That’s what my mom said about me and you, remember?   But any way, like you said: they don’t have any money right now.” I assured her.

The next morning every one was busy as usual, running around getting things done.  

“Peter!… Why is Andre on that boat fixing ropes and cleaning the deck?!…” Lisa asked with the keen sense of a detective on the verge of solving a crime.

To be continued

Hours became longer and longer as Yod Hey maintained radio silence through the night.   The next day, we continued calling Yod Hey with no response.   It was impossible to enjoy the beautiful sailing conditions, not knowing the werabouts of the smallest boat in the fleet.   Captain Raymond’s only comfort rested in Smoky’s many years of sailing experience.  Still, any comfort was short lived as we imagined what could possibly be wrong every minute that passed.

Finally we made the dreaded call to the coast guard.   We sailed slowly, listening helplessly to the coastguard’s radio calls to any vessel who may have had a visual on Yod Hey, but nothing…

We arrived at Marco Island and waited… We had been praying since we had lost contact with Yod Hey, by now we were concerned to hear what could have happened.

A faint call came over the radio.   It was Boat US (sort of like AAA for boats).  Yod Hey was being towed.

I can’t describe how relieved we all were.   Apparently their batteries were low and they decided to turn off the radio in order to preserve battery power.   Eventually, without wind and unable to start the motor, they called Boat US for a tow.

We sat down and reflected on the experience.   Captain Raymond strongly suggested several ideas to avoid this scenario from happening in the future. 

We rested for a couple of days, then it was off to Marathon.   There, we would be able to make the necessary repairs on Yod Hey.   We tossed 200ft of heavy tow line off the stern of Aleph Tav, and much to Smoky’s disappointment, we towed Yod Hey all the way to Marathon.

It wasn’t before long that we realized we all needed to make some repairs and adjustments before leaving the Florida Keys.    La Victoria developed a serious cooling problem due to a water pump that was rebuilt incorrectly.  Aleph Tav was fitted with a new cylinoid to help start the motor.

A man riding a dingy with bullet holes all over it, made several passes around Aleph Tav.   He was wearing army camo, and a thick scarf around his neck…

“I’ve had you on satellite surveillance this whole time, and I now have my men keeping an eye on you. You will be safe, which is more then I can say about Justin and Chelsea… I have to go for now, but I will be watching…”

This was Rambo Ray…

To be continued

What could have caused the Baptist purity folks to drive off offended, I wondered.

“Well Rabbi, your a man of G-d, and your carrying on’hea wearing nothing but shorts… no shoes… no shirt… It don’t look right fo’them Baptist purity folks.  Their fixi’n to drop all their support of our mission!”

“…it’s one hundred degrees, and we’re out here trying to get these boats ready.”  I responded somewhat bewildered.

“I know… What can I say.” Answered the Captain with his hands in the air.  “Yo not in Rhode Island anymore brother…”

“Make sure your wearing a safety line!” Reminded Lisa, while I put on a shirt and gathered some tools to go up the mast of the young couple’s boat.   A pulley needed to be changed and apparently I was the only person around who actually enjoyed being up on the masts.    I was suspended up there for almost an hour when I heard a bone chilling sound;  the stainless steel  halliard line I was attached to, snapped with a deafening sound that echoed across the river.   I freefalled for about two feet, then was immediately suspended by that life line that my beloved Lisa reminded me to wear.   I held onto the mast like a cat atop a flag pole on a windy day, waiting for my heartbeat to return to normal, then proceeded with the pulley repair.

We were now close to leaving, but my heart was disappointed.  I had hoped we would be bringing a load of supplies to help not only our children, but their community as well, but unfortunately all we had was barely enough to sustain us.   Then a van drove up.   A team of Canadian sailors had a van load of sails for us to bring for the fishermen in Haiti.   I was in awe.  Truly, when we do our part, G-d does the impossible.  The problem is, the impossible is so outrageous, that we consider our minuscule part to be but a foolish waste of time.   So we do nothing, and wait for G-d, unaware that He is doing nothing, while He waits for us…

At last the day came.   The ladies from the Baptist holiness church arrived at the dock.   They had sewn some scripture on napkins to tie on each of our vessels.   They stood on the shore with their long dresses, and they’re hair in a bun, waving.

Three sailboats were ready for the journey.  Yod Hey was crewed by Justin and Chelsea and captained by Smoky.  La Victoria was crewed by Captain’s son in law Ben, his grandson Michael, Mathew, who left his pizza making job to embark on this life changing experience, our son Gabriel, and senior Captain Raymond.    Aleph Tav was crewed by the prettiest girl I have ever seen Lisa, our sons Andre and Noah, Andre’s wife Karah, and Captained by yours truly.

I donned my talit with shofar in hand and spoke a blessing over each vessel accompanied by a blast of the shofar.   Then, one after another, we pushed off the dock and slowly motored down the Stinehachee river.

Way out front Yod Hey quickly disappeared, as Smoky and his crew caught just the right angle of the wind and took off.

La Victoria raised all her sails and followed south

Lastly, the fast zipping sound of lines rubbing past spinning winches tightened Aleph Tav’s huge genoa, and our sails filled up with a strong and steady wind as evening came over us quickly.

Ready to begin the night shift, I made myself comfortable, with a hot cup of coffee on one hand and an iPad on the other.   In the distance, the faint glow of La Victoria’s mast was the only light piercing through the darkness.

“Yod Hey!… Yod Hey!… Come in Yod Hey!… This is La Victoria do you copy!!!”

“Yod Hey!… Yod Hey!… Come in Yod Hey!…

“Yod Hey!… Do you copy!!!…

To be continued

A day later, the young couple arrived with countless stories of their terrible experience with the prospective vessel and Rambo Ray.   It was clear that the situation with Rambo and that vessel was not going to be resolved or even considered, so we began to look for other options as our departure time was closing in on us quickly.

Finally, someone close by decided to sell their sailboat.   It was small, but with some TLC it would work fine for them.   There was however another problem, the young couple had no experience sailing.   We would have to find a seasoned skipper to captain their vessel the entire journey.

After giving it some thought, Captain had just the person for the job.   “Y’all are gonna love Smoky.” he assured us as we now focused on getting the young couple’s vessel ready.

Several days later, there was a short skinny man sitting on Doug Black’s picnic table by the dock.   He had a huge fluffy beard, scraggly hair going in every direction, and he was puffing on a vaporizer.   

“Smoky is the name… and you are?…”  The man asked with his hand extended.

“Peter… Every one knows me as Rabbi Peter.” I answered.

“Pleasure to make your acquaintance Rabbi”.   He replied graciously.

For the next week, I would wake up at sunrise, and there would be Smoky, pondering on the projects he would have to tackle on that day.  I would offer him a freshly brewed cup of coffee and without fail he would take a sip, then he would pause and say: “ahhh… The elixir of life…”

Sunrise to sunset became a blur.   It is amazing no one got hurt, considering the incredible amount of people in each other’s way, doing their best to complete every project.   In the evenings, having exhausted all our energy, we would lounge around listening to the beautiful young couple singing.  Justin with his muttonchops mustache focusing on the precision of every cord, and Chelsea singing as she gazed into his eyes with the biggest smile.   Every day was a repeat of the last, and a foreshadow of the next for several weeks, with the exception of Shabbat, where rest could always be found in Aleph Tav.

One early Shabbat morning, I unfolded a beautiful table cloth over our galley table, then retrieved the Torah scroll from the V birth.   I then called the young couple over.  They were stunned with reverent awe… I covered Justin’s head with a talit, then I opened the scroll.   Placing a pointer on his hand I said:   “Repeat after me…” ❤️
He spoke each word with tears rolling down his cheeks.   Chelsea looked on with a red face, sniffling her nose.
 
Then, “once’mo again”, as they say in these here parts, the sun rose and it was back to the frantic hustle and bustle; carrying boxes, patching dinghys, tightening cables, designing mufflers, sowing sails and swatting gnats, all in 99 degree weather wearing as little clothes as possible. 

“Rabbi…” Said the Captain as he took me aside, “…Ma’gash brother! dis’hea ain’t nothing but constructive criticism.  The folks from the Baptist Purity just drove off… They are highly offended!”

To be continued

Excited by the prospect of getting a sound sailboat at a great prize, the young couple headed to Marathon. Meanwhile, back at Doug Black’s dock, the hustle and bustle of stocking Aleph Tav continued with increasing excitement. Then we got some wonderful news. Our oldest son Andre and his wife Kerah decided to join Aleph Tav’s crew and sail with us into Haiti. Lisa was delighted to no longer be the only girl on the vessel and I was very glad to have Andre’s help on the crew.

The loading continued. It is difficult to understand how Lisa was able to find a place for all the bags of food and supplies that kept coming, but somehow she did just that with a little room to spare.

Andre and Kara diligently prepared the V birth; their home for the next several months, and Noah arranged his video games and stowed his clothes away. Gabriel was thrilled to gather his things and head out to Captain’s vessel where he received an invitation as a crew member. We were close to our departure and we could feel it.

I ran to old man Mike’s metal shop to pick up the handrails he fabricated for our biminy. When I arrived, I found him staring at a small kitten lying on the dirt. I stepped out of the car, and his dogs greeted me as usual, while the numerous cats and chickens scattered in every direction.

“Is he ok?” I asked as I came close. “He’s dead!” Mumbled Mike. “I didn’t know he was on the back of the truck… I saw him roll down the street out of the rear view mirror.” Next to the lifeless creature was another kitten who lay there as if trying to comfort him. My heart broke. Old man Mike said: “You’ll need a boat cat.”

“Of course I will!” I replied without giving it much thought, so I picked out the scruffiest looking runt of the litter and named her Stow Away.

“Absolutely NOT!!!” Demanded Lisa as she fell in love with the sorry looking runt who would not leave the boat from that day on, except to a couple of vet trips.

“Captain, we can’t do it.” Came the couple’s frantic voice over the phone. “This guy is insane… He is living in some delusional commando wonder land and he’s gonna get us all killed!!!”

“Alright now…” Comforted the Captain “Y’all settle down now. Rambo Ray’s alright, you just need knowi’n him a bit more.”

“No way!!! This guy is not playing with a full deck. We are coming back right away!” Informed the couple as they hung up.

Moments later, Captain’s infamous rooster phone began coca-doodle-doing.
“Captain, the mission has been compromised. Psyops on the subjects revealed that they are unstable, delusional and psychotic… quite frankly, they are spoiled brat jerks! Avoid contact at all costs! Ray out!…”

To be continued