A Judgement Call

This past weekend the Marina was a-buzz with activity. Sails were being pulled off, folded, and put in storage bags, boats were being pulled out and pressure washed for the winter. A saw a lot of sad faces and heard a few melancholy remarks about the end of the sailing season. With a cool fall wind and a dreary, overcast sky, the entire Marina had a dismal feeling to it.

We launched our boat and enjoyed one last short sail across the lake and back. It was good to feel the wind fill the sails and heel her over to starboard. We were quickly up to 5 knots on a close reach and Aquilon was digging in nicely. She is in her groove making 5 to 6 knots with the wind  blowing around 6 to 10 knots. Its an amazing sensation to feel a 10,000 pound boat being propelled by the wind alone, its a graceful power, like an invisible hand pushing you along. Its not surprising to believe that the ancients thought that the god Poseidon was blowing their ships across the water.

We had a decision to make; should we pull the boat and lose the ability to sail on warmer winter days, or leave it in and hope that the lake doesn't freeze solid and potentially damage the hull. Ultimately, we decided to pull her out. After our Saturday sail, we pulled the sails off and started cleaning and organizing things for storage.

So now she is in her slip with bare poles waiting her turn to be lifted out and the weather forecast for Saturday is showing cool temps but great wind and I am wondering if we made the right decision. Alas, this could go back and forth all winter. Every warm weekend I am going to wish I had left her in the drink. The decision to pull her out was also made easier because I have some work to do over the winter that will be easier without the boat bobbing around in the water too. So, even though it sucks and there will be warm days and oh wells, it has to happen.

End of the Season

 

With a chill in the air and morning dew laying heavy on the grass, all we can do is pull our jackets tighter around our necks and prepare for the coming winter. Fall is one of my favorite times of the year, with cooler days and fresh breezes,  the leaves turning color on the trees. It is a time to reflect on the ending year, to celebrate the harvest. A time when hunters fill the woods and the primal call to hunt give us an unbreakable link to our ancestors. The only down side for me is the end of the sailing season and unfortunately, pulling the boat out of the water


This coming weekend may be the last day to sail before the season comes to an end. The weather forecast is predicting winds around 5 to 7 mph and temperatures in the 50's; Jacket weather and light winds, but a solid day for a long lasting sail. I can already imagine myself behind the wheel, feeling the cool wind bite against my face, a warm drink in my hand, drawing as much satisfaction as I can from the end of season sail.

I have a lot of plans for my boat over the winter, weather permitting of course. I want to change my sail bag and Bimini covers: They are red right now, but we prefer blue. I also want to upgrade the plumbing and install lazy jacks for the main sail. After all the maintenance and upgrades are done and after her long winter sleep we should be able to launch and sail without delay in the spring. I just have to wait 4 long months until I am back in water.

Martina and I have learned a lot in the past year and our sailing skill has definitely improved. So, with several years to go, a live a board boat to buy and outfit, by the time we are ready to take to the sea we should be well skilled sailors.Over the winter the sailboat show comes to Chicago and we will almost certainly attend. We love Chicago, especially the food, and it gives us a chance to see larger boats up close and get a feel for how well we could live aboard one.

As sad as it is for me to see this season come to an end, I have next season to look forward to and that gives me something to smile about. So, for now, we will warm our spiced rum or spike our coffee and enjoy the camaraderie of the marina yacht club members who all sit and talk and wish the cold weather was already behind us.

Back behind the wheel

After a two week hiatus of being sick and family commitments, this weekend, I was finally back doing what I enjoy, sailing the boat with my family. This weekend was especially pleasing because I had my daughter and granddaughter on board. It was my granddaughters first time sailing and she seemed to enjoy it, even sleeping for part of our voyage.

While sailing and talking I couldn't help but think that this is how things are supposed to be. To have the undivided attention of those closest to you without the constant disruptions from T.V., cell phones and computers; time just seems slower and more enjoyable without those things.

The wind was light on Saturday and we were cruising at around 3 knots, so it was easy sailing. I could easily see myself living this way when retired; not a care in the world and no time tables. As with anything, time marches on, and we finally turned towards the marina. After docking the boat and securing her, making sure all the through hull valves were closed, because one boat at the marina was under water for reasons unknown, and we didn't want to to find ours in that condition.

So, reluctantly we left the marina knowing that fall is upon us and our sailing days for this year are numbered. Soon, we will have to pull her out for the winter, and the long wait till spring will be on again. But until then we will glide over the water at every opportunity and enjoy those lazy, relaxing days.