8 The Will of the EmpressOn Friday afternoon, I grabbed a cab to the waterfront heliport and boarded a chopper to Victoria. It didn’t take too long and landed near the Inner Harbor. A short walk along the seawall took me to the Empress, where the boats were rafted five deep. There was a cacophony of music and laughter. The Aphrodite was easy to spot. She was 120 feet long with a mast far taller than any other. A full set of signal flags fluttered on her backstay, and the spreader lights were on, illuminating the teak deck. Several dozen men and a few women were standing, sitting, or reclining in various places aboard.
I started toward the ramp, but there was a security guard at the top. Without hesitation, I walked up, gave him a cheery wave, and smiled as I passed by. No challenge, ju
