Chapter 788 - 358: Crossing the Gulf Stream (2)

Chapter 788: Chapter 358: Crossing the Gulf Stream (2)

Mike walked to the side of the ship, first carefully pouring a small glass of golden liquid onto the teak deck of the Polaris, as if feeding his beloved horse.

Then, he raised the bottle toward the vast ocean and slowly poured out the remaining liquor.

The golden liquid drew an arc in the sunlight, falling into the sea and causing ripples to spread outward.

"May you bless our journey, with calm seas and fair winds." He murmured a prayer in a voice only he could hear.

The ceremony concluded, the atmosphere aboard the ship turned solemn and full of anticipation.

Everything was ready. Lin Yu’an stood at the double steering wheel of the Polaris.

Glancing at First Mate Riven beside him, then at Sailor Mike in charge of untying the ropes, he calmly issued his first command as a true captain.

"Release all the ropes, prepare to depart."

"Aye Aye, Captain!"

For the first time, Mike and Riven responded to their captain using the most formal sailor’s etiquette.

Lin Yu’an slowly pushed the throttle lever, and the Polaris’s 75-horsepower Yanmar diesel engine let out a deep and powerful roar.

The massive hull of the Polaris slowly left its long-standing berth under the low rumble of the engine, gracefully sliding into the main channel like an awakening giant whale.

His first voyage officially commenced.

When the vessel sailed out of the breakwater and into the open sea, a force entirely different from within the harbor instantly surrounded them.

The wind turned strong and steady, while the waves began to roll rhythmically.

"Listen." Captain Mike closed his eyes, his face displaying an almost devout expression. "This is the sound, this is the true heartbeat of a sailboat."

Lin Yu’an turned off the engine and issued the command to raise the sails in the tranquility.

Then, under the tacit cooperation of the three, the large mainsail and headsail were hoisted in turn, spreading like the wings of a giant bird, catching the wind with a loud ’whoosh’!

The Polaris listed sharply to one side, its bow slicing through the azure sea, leaving a trail of white wake as it began to sprint eastward with elegance and speed.

The first few hours of sailing were pleasant. The sunshine was just right, the sea breeze gentle, and the Polaris, under Lin Yu’an’s control, traced a perfect path across the blue ocean.

Riven leaned against the wheel, arms crossed, watching Lin Yu’an’s every move like an examiner.

"How do you feel, Captain?" she asked with a hint of a smile, "She has much more character than the little go-kart, right?"

Lin Yu’an’s eyes never left the compass and sail angle ahead, but the corners of his mouth slightly lifted: "She’s not like a go-kart, more like a high-speed train running on tracks."

"Every command needs to be anticipated in advance due to her massive inertia, but once she’s in the zone, the feeling of stability and power is unparalleled."

Mike, overhearing, couldn’t help but laugh. He walked behind Lin Yu’an and patted his back, which was tightly clutching the wheel.

"Lin, you’re too tense! You’re wrestling with her! Relax, don’t treat her like a machine, treat her as your dance partner, feel her rhythm."

Taking Mike’s words to heart, Lin Yu’an tried to relax his shoulders, redirecting more of his attention from the data to the sensations of his body.

He felt the slight vibrations transmitted to the hull through the sail ropes and the life-force feedback of the rudder in the water.

Gradually, it seemed as if an unspoken connection had been established between him and this 45-foot giant beast.

"Much better." Mike nodded with satisfaction, "Remember, the best captains don’t sail with their eyes, but with their butts."

The crude yet insightful remark made Riven burst into laughter. "Dad! You’re imparting your ancient ’pirate philosophy’ again!"

"It’s called experience, sweetheart!" Mike retorted nonchalantly.

"Data can deceive, but your body never will. When your butt can feel the slightest lateral shift of the stern, you’ve truly graduated."

In the midst of this lighthearted banter, three hours quietly passed. Once the Florida coastline completely vanished beyond the horizon, the ocean beneath them began to unveil its wilder side.

The water shifted from the nearby green hue to a deep, unsettling cobalt blue, without any warning.

Riven glanced at the multifunction display and immediately reported, "Water temperature has jumped three degrees. We’ve entered."

"Indeed." Mike’s voice took on a more serious tone, "Welcome to the Gulf Stream, the great river of the ocean."

"It can carry you hundreds of miles a day or, when you’re against the wind, beat you back with a series of crashing waves. Lin, from now on, you’ll need to be at your utmost alert."

The Gulf Stream’s mighty force, like an invisible giant conveyor belt, began pushing their 45-foot sailboat northward, seemingly on its own accord.

The GPS on board showed a more than 15-degree angle between their actual sailing trajectory and the course!

"The bow is 15 degrees off course to the left, current speed 3 knots, and increasing!" Riven’s voice was clear and composed, continuously reporting critical data.

"Understood." Lin Yu’an responded steadily, starting to slowly turn the wheel.

He had to keep the bow consistently at a large angle opposite the target direction to counteract the powerful lateral force brought by the Gulf Stream.