Late last evening, just as I was crawling into bed, I noticed an email notification from my newest acquaintance and neighbor, Carolina. She wrote:

“Hello Bill, if you’re triking around 11 tomorrow, stop by the old pickleball courts (I think they’re green). Four of us who haven’t played in a year or two are going to give it a try.”

The unexpected invitation was met with warm enthusiasm. At last, I would be introduced to pickleball—a sport I had long observed from the vantage point of my bicycle or tricycle seat during winters on Hilton Head Island, Longboat Key or Key Largo. The unmistakable zeal of its players had, over time, fostered a quiet intrigue. But when, quite by accident this morning, I discovered the game’s connection to yachting and boat racing, the synthesis was complete!

Regrettably, I misunderstood the venue for this morning’s match. My first stop was South Beach Racquet Club, not far from Lands End, where Carolina and I reside. Parking my tricycle as near as possible, I perched on a nearby picnic table bench and surveyed the courts for a familiar face — without success. I lingered long enough for a pickleball coach to advise that I needn’t sit in the shade; I could enjoy the sun on the other side of the courts. It was an especially windy day today and as a result somewhat cool. I refrained from explaining that cycling was prohibited there and that, without my tricycle, I was metaphorically without a backbone.

At last, abandoning hope of finding Carolina and her companions, I resumed my usual late-morning ride along the pathway beside South Sea Pines Drive. The day was magnificent — a violent wind off the sea sent the giant pines into a ceaseless rustling, a symphony of movement and sound. In such circumstances, it was impossible to contest the fortune of the day. After completing my own Olympic endeavour along the pathway, I punctuated the morning’s advantages with a snooze on the back deck, overlooking the ever-serene Braddock Cove.

Pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington. The game quickly became popular in the Pacific Northwest and spread throughout the country. It’s especially popular among retirees and people looking for a low-impact exercise.

Pickle boat

The term “pickle boat” originally came from rowing races in England during the 19th century. In large crew regattas, teams would race with their best rowers, but leftover rowers who didn’t make it into a main team would be thrown together to form the final team of the day, called the “pickle boat.” This team was not expected to win, but they competed nonetheless, making up a “motley crew” much like the bits of food pickled and preserved from a meal. Eventually, the term was adopted into sailing to refer to the last boat to cross the finish line. Over the years, many regattas have embraced this title as a lighthearted way to recognize the perseverance of those who finished the race, regardless of their placement.