The Creative Power Inverter
- Diana Kathryn
- Jul 5
- 5 min read
July 2026
The basic function of a power inverter is to translate power found in one form that is somewhat inaccessible into another form that can be accessed more easily. So, you take a 12-volt plug (that round thing in your car that us old folks used to call a “cigarette lighter” but is now called an “accessory power plug”), plug in a box with fancy wiring inside, and add a standard AC plug on the outside. That gives you the ability to use a different piece of equipment – laptop, air pump, small cooler, etc. – and transmogrify the car’s energy into a form the device can use more efficiently. It’s a simple machine, but when you think about it, it's a complex process. It’s amazing that we can combine different forms of energy to suit our specific purposes. Science, to me, can often feel like magic. (Don’t even get me started on how aircraft carriers float!)
I’ve found that nature holds the magic that makes science… and creativity… work even more effectively. Often, the inverter for my creative energy is transmogrified by the astounding energy of being outdoors. Drake, my muse, comes out to play far more frequently when I spend time in nature. Nowhere is that power harnessed more tremendously than when we’re on a sailboat.
So, yesterday morning, when I realized Drake was struggling with a depleted energy reserve, I booked passage on The Manitou, a 114-foot schooner harbored in Traverse City Bay. Holidays are often when I find our creative batteries are at their weakest. There are so many emotional drains simultaneously, and most social distractions are closed to accommodate the madness. So, I took full advantage of the beautiful weather to unplug and recharge.
I’ve sailed this ship and different ones, too, on these waters before. I’ve never been disappointed. There is a magical thing that happens for Drake and me when we spend time moving across the water, with the wind caressing my face and ruffling his feathers. This wasn’t a time for writing – although Drake and I have written many words while sitting on the bow of a sailboat. This was a time for slipping in between the breeze and the spray and watching the tell-tales as we felt for wisps of inspiration.
Some may say my enthusiasm was a little extreme… and I’m sure that I unnerved a few of my fellow sailors… but the Captain seemed pleased, so I didn’t squelch it. When you sail through life reefed, it might make your boat more stable, but it also means you don’t get to bury the rail and drag your hair in the water… so, I chose to go un-reefed. I’m really glad I did. I’ve seen others do this on roller coasters. People have more fun when they put their hands in the air and scream. It’s not necessarily safe, but it sure is fun.
I cheerfully volunteered to pull the line and help hoist the foresail, screaming my hearty responses to the Captain’s and crew’s orders. With me were a crew member, a girl of around ten, a retired tourist, and the child’s mom. We stood starboard and heaved, bringing our sail all the way up to fill with air. It was more work than I remember, but the fun was unforgettable. The retiree’s wife watched and laughed as we giggled at our shared exuberant labor. I saw myself in the little girl as she pulled, and I remembered doing the same at her age. I hope this moment brought her as much joy, and that she discovers the same love for sailing in her adulthood. Although I didn’t think fast enough to ask the retiree’s wife to film us, I did get a photo afterward, and my joy was obvious. I knew that this was going to be a great day!
Our two hours on the water brought easy swells, with a comfortable rise and fall of the waves as the wind pushed us across the bay. We shared the waters with several craft of various origins. Some were personal pleasure craft; others were “tall ship” schooners like The Manitou. The skies were a rich, vibrant blue, gently painted with clusters of white clouds edged in pastel blue. The temperature was summer-warm and perfect.
Sailing invokes a peace few other pursuits offer me. The gentle rocking of the boat, the near-silent luff of air filling the sails, and the hypnotic track of clouds across the sky ease my soul in a way that I barely have words to describe. On a ship this size, when the sails flip sides during a tack, it all happens in slow motion. Each boom casts an interesting shadow as it crosses the deck in near-perfect silence. When I stand or sit on the deck of a sailboat, I can instantly feel the stress, tension, and expectations for everything outside of the creative realm leave my body. It’s a recharge unlike anything else in the world.
Between moments of relaxed silence, I enjoyed conversations with the Captain and other passengers. Some told stories of challenge, some shared moments of heartache, and still others told silly jokes, and we shared a bit of laughter. The Captain, “well-seasoned” as Gordon Lightfoot might sing, was tremendously calm, and I could tell he loved life more because he was fortunate to spend his days sailing and sharing that love with others. With his eyes watching the sails and his gentle voice guiding the guest sailors who were given turns at the wheel, I marveled at his story of twice pulling into the dock entirely under sail, without a fender rub. That’s what a lifetime of passion and skill teaches. Incredible!
Toward the end of our sail, Captain Jamie shared with the entire complement on board this reminder: the wind hitting the sails, the water moving against the hull, the sun warming our course across the bay, and the passengers who shared the day would never be repeated in exactly the same way ever again. He encouraged each of us to grab hold of that, tuck it into a small bottle, open it later, and remember the uniqueness of the experience whenever we wanted to realign ourselves with our connection to nature and each other. It was a beautiful bit of poetry that I will never forget.
Never one to ignore excellent advice, Drake pulled out a tiny plastic jar (glass is discouraged on a sailboat), captured all the wonderment, quickly put the stopper back in the top, and tucked it safely under his wing. We will always have this little bit of extra energy with us whenever we write. And the best part: it’s refillable… we know where this ship is berthed!
During the sail, I asked Captain Jamie if he would grant me permission to climb out to the bowsprit (he can’t say yes if I don’t ask the question) . Of course, he denied my request, citing safety concerns. However, he did say that if I came aboard for one of their overnight sails, because there are fewer souls on board, I would be allowed to try it then. His bait was carefully hooked, and I will bite at it soon!
If you ever find yourself in need of a creative recharge, or just want to experience something simply spectacular, please consider an afternoon sail on The Schooner Manitou in Traverse City. I promise you won’t regret it.
You can find The Traverse Tall Ship Co. at https://tallshipsailing.com/manitou/
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