The Tritons Walk The Plank...

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Ahoy, Ahoy,

Triton's Holiday Decorations

It has been quite a while since we've posted here, but until recently there hadn't been much in the way of cruising developments to speak of.  When we last left our heroes, they were safely ensconced in the quiet comforts of the San Francisco Bay, AnnMarie had started her own tax and business services company and Robb had gone to work for a Silicon Valley start-up.  Since then we've contented ourselves with day-sails on the bay with friends, weekend trips up the delta, crazy antics with the ten thousand maniacs in our tribe, and insanely over-decorating our boat during the holidays.

And how quickly five years speeds by!  During that time we've made quite a number of improvements to Triton in preparation for casting off sometime in what we'd hoped would be the fall of 2013, heading first to Mexico, and then for parts beyond.  We blinked and suddenly the summer was ending and our time to leave upon us.  

Mawwage

Of course, that didn't stop us from trying to cram what would have been a year of planning and activity (for any two normal adults) into three months of insanity, including attending one last TTITD in August (during which Robb proposed to AnnMarie), and also getting married (and throwing an enormous bon voyage party) in October.

Now the marriage bit may seem a bit surprising, given that we have lived on a boat together for the last 18 years in non-monogamous and/or polyfidelous relationships of some sort, but seeing how we were headed off to places where "domestic partnership" doesn't necessarily convey the same rights, we thought it might be convenient, if not down-right prudent, to be husband and wife.

But cruisers are notoriously efficient people when it comes to maximizing their fun, so we decided to combine our wedding with our bon voyage party.  What better reason to see all our friends together at one time, especially when the weather was so nice.  The problem was that we had only three weeks to pull it all off, and we had already spent our entire cruising budget on boat parts.

So many good friends!

That was the moment we realized just how amazing, talented, and resourceful our friends are.  Over twenty folks pitched in and put together an incredible party.  Our friends organized everything from the food & drink to handling the invitations, to organizing and running the event.  Even more astonishingly, they created a truly wonderful wedding for two undeserving wharf-rats.   That is quite a feat in modern times, and we will always be indebted to everyone who helped.  We are definitely not worthy.

Just some of the amazing people
who made it all possible

The ceremony took place on Angel Island (pretty much the center of the San Francisco Bay), but with a nautical theme.  We encouraged folks to come dressed as whatever sea monster, privateer, ship-wrecked voyager, or famous sailor took their fancy, and they did!

Here Comes The Bride!

It was a gorgeous day, we had over one hundred friends show up, many of them in costume.  Picture every character from "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Gilligan's Island", "Mutiny on the Bounty", and "Creatures from the Black Lagoon" attending a family reunion and you'll start to get an idea.  I can only imagine what the unsuspecting tourists riding the Angel Island Ferry thought that day.

The wedding started with AnnMarie playing "Here Comes the Bride" on saxophone.  Her sister Judi was the Mermaid of Honor, and accompanied her on cymbals.

The ceremony itself was performed by our dear friends Erik & Qat- they sailed with us from the BVIs to Trinidad back when we'd first bought our boat.  We'd performed their wedding ceremony a few years back, so turn about is fair play.

Our vows were a bit different than most.  Rather than anger the sea gods (who get annoyed by anyone who does what they say they are going to do) we included a few that we knew we would probably break.

And just before we were pronounced "husband & wife" (or "captain & admiral"), a gang plank was produced, and in true pirate fashion, we were made to walk to the end of it, kiss each other, and jump off, symbolizing what we aren't sure, but it seemed a fitting way to end the ceremony and begin our new adventures together.

In retrospect, the event went off with only a smidgeon of delays, mostly because we thought that AnnMarie could bake all the wedding cakes herself.  As a general rule of thumb, one should not expect the bride to do pastry work on the day of her wedding.

The Blushing Bride

Besides that, it was a fabulous day.  Both of us had a great time, and as best we can tell, so did everyone else.   We sailed back to Emery Cove around sunset, jumped in our car and drove over to San Francisco where Michael (the best man) and Kathleen hosted an after-party.  There was an amazing sculpture of the sea god Triton, done entirely in chocolate, by our good friend (and extremely talented sculptor) John.

But the best part was that we got to see so many good friends.   We've learned that the true measure of any individual is the company they keep, and by that standard we count ourselves very fortunate indeed.  We have incredible friends, and it was a delight to spend such a glorious day with them.

About to walk the plank

Our honeymoon consisted of snuggling on Triton that night, and then spending the next two days not doing any boat work at all.   I'm sure a few weeks in Hawaii would have been just as nice, but we have never been happier.

But now we need to get ready for the Baja-Haha cruiser's rally.   We have only a few weeks to go, and are way behind schedule.  We're planning on meeting Mike & Melissa in San Diego, then sailing down to Cabo San Lucas, stopping only at Mac Bay and Turtle Bay along the way.

Wish us luck!


Robb & AnnMarie

PS.  The "Litany" mentioned in the wedding vows video was originally passed down to us from Cory & Leslie, who got it from another happy couple.  It is a powerful incantation that, when uttered (usually at the point in the fight when you realize that the other person may be right), magically restores marital harmony.   Reciting it allows both parties to save face, and will end almost any intractable argument immediately.  It goes like this:

• I'm sorry
• You were right.
• I was wrong.
• I should have listened to you.
• I'll try harder next time.
• I love you.

We firmly believe that this small amount of prose is almost single-handedly responsible for our long and happy relationship.   We would encourage everyone to memorize it, and say it often.  You don't actually need to mean it when you say it, but it helps.



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