Christophe Harbour

1

Synchronicity

Noun: the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms

He smiles, offers his hand, and says “Come aboard.”

You do, gratefully, and instantly relax, breathe in the salt air.

2

He sets you all to work, readying Synchronicity for her day at sea. For a moment, you forget everything you ever knew about sailing. You take a deep breath. You glance at your Captain. You lift your face to the sun, and start to move...

The main sail’s embraced the breeze now. You’re flying effortlessly through the azure water. Past the channel markers. To the sea.

3

You ask where Synchronicity gets her name. Captain Rui smiles and tells you how Synchronicity came to him as a gift – a friend’s wish to see her in the hands of someone who loved her as he did.

“Everything happens for a reason,” he says. “Now I get to share her with you.”

4

You’re racing along the leeward side of the island, lush green hills that roll down to sugar sand beaches that melt into blue waters. Deep breath. All senses firing.

“Where are we?” you say it as you think it. Rui laughs easily.

“We’re everywhere. We’re not far from Antigua, St. Barths, St. Maarten, and Anguilla. We’re everywhere and nowhere.”

That’s exactly how you feel.

Late afternoon. The sun moves toward the horizon, as if it’s racing you back to the marina. Yellow light becomes blood orange. Soft pink glows into crimson.

You move in synch with the sounds of Rui’s voice. Everything you ever loved and learned about sailing has returned to you. There is a rhythm in every move. You find your own ebb and flow.

The marina grows as you draw closer. With 300 berths, Rui says it has room for everything – from small crafts to superyachts.

You take the tender back to Synchronicity, and as you board, Rui is opening wine. You smell truffle oil. Captain turns into chef. Into consummate host.

You thank Rui, step off Synchronicity and onto the marina dock. Kind voices and warm light lead youhome.