Dreaming of Columbus

The author joined the America 500 Rally in Spain for the quincentenary celebration of Christopher Columbus and the epic voyage of 1492. The Rally was a rousing anniversary sail across the Atlantic Ocean and a unique experience in ocean-going camaraderie. The author recounts the voyage of his junk-rigged sailboat with frequent references to the log of Columbus. Along the way he highlights the historical background of The Inquisition and Columbus's daring proposal to sail westward to reach the east and Asia. The boat's unique junk rig adds to the tantalizing notion that Columbus may have been following the wake of Chinese sailors. This is a rare look into the friendships of a sailing rally at sea and in ports. Over the short-wave radio and potluck dock parties, sailors join in an adventure and a celebration of Columbus's feats of ocean navigational.