I have known Wally for some 30 years. My sympathies to the family. Rather than describing the attributes of this consummate lawyer and friend, I just wanted to tell a story. I believe it was in the summer of 1982, during some rather dark days in my generally happy life, that I went sailing out of Newport Beach with Wally. Knowing that I was a new sailor, he invited me to sail on his new boat. It was a Hunter 35 if I recall right. Although new, it had a reputation as a fairly low-end boat. But he was quite proud of it, and I agreed with Wally that she was a pretty boat. Sailors always talk of their boats in female terms for any number of good reasons.
So he took me out. For most of the day, I would generally steer and he would handle the sails. It was a beautiful sailing day. Warm, a nice steady breeze, clear sky, a few puffy clouds. And we had a great day on the water. I particularly remember a couple things. A shark followed our boat for quite a while. About a 5-footer. Never saw that before or since. And at one point we ended up on the same tack as a very fancy sailboat. Wally knew it as a Praetorian. Another 35-footer like ours but a classy high end sailboat costing at least 3 times as much as his Hunter, Wally told me. Mylar sails. The works. First rate. Being a competitive boy, Wally started racing the Praetorian in his little Hunter 35. He started adjusting the sails, really tuning up the boat while I paid close attention to the wheel. To Wally’s delight, we started gaining on the Praetorian. They started working their sails; but, soon, to their skipper’s obvious chagrin, we passed it up completely, and left it in our wake. Wally was so proud and so excited. And he went on and on about shutting down that Praetorian.
Most sailors motor in Newport Harbor. Too crowded to sail. But Wally confidently sailed right in after our little race. In front of admiring boaters we expertly sailed between boats and began tacking back and forth up the last channel. We thought we were very impressive. Then we sailed her downwind and back to the dock. Afterwards we had a seafood dinner at Delaney’s along with a few gin and tonics. And we talked about how we were the best sailors in the fastest boat on the sea. It was one of those rare little perfect days in your life. Every time we ran into each other after that, we were always glad to meet. And he would always ask me, “You remember that day we blew by the Praetorian?” And I’d say, “Yes, Wally. I remember it very well.” And I always will, the day that Wally and I were the hottest sailors on the sea.
##imported-begin##James Hackleman##imported-end##
