Mother Nature can be....

Very Frustrating!

That was very evident this past weekend.

After three weeks away from the marina, we took Aquilon out for a Saturday sail, we were happily greeted with nice mid eighties temps, low humidity, winds around 10 mph with gusts a little over. Not bad for Carlyle lake in the summer, which is usually very hot and humid with little or no wind. After motoring out of the harbor we put out the Genoa sail, but after a few minutes, and wanting to sail faster, I turned her into the wind to set the main sail. We turned south, headed towards the dam on a beam reach. Aquilon likes spirited winds and dug in for a fast run toward the dam. After clearing the point of land at Coles Creek, not wanting to go all the way to the dam because of boat traffic, we tacked, and pointed her bow just south of the mouth of the creek. She was sailing very nice and it was relaxing, Martina even sat behind the wheel for a while and got some good practice in.

Being ill for 3 weeks left me tired and easily exhausted, so we decided to turn back to the marina after a couple of hours and good sailing, on the way back we were sailing fast, over 7 miles per hour, heeled nicely on a close reach. We went on a single tack all the way to the start of the shallow area of the lake just south of the south tower. We tacked toward the marina; that's when Mother Nature decided my fun was over for the day.

The wind changed direction; after being from the northeast all day, it decide to blow from the east; the same direction that I had just turned toward. So I veered a little more south hoping it would change back and let me continue to sail east. With no change from the wind, we tacked again, heading almost straight north. As soon as we had the sails adjusted, the wind shifted north, once again right on our nose. Now for those of you that are not familiar with sailing, you can not sail directly into the wind. You can, however, sail about 40-45 degrees of the wind or closer depending on your boat and/or rig. With Aquilon I can get within 20 degrees of the wind close hauled and she sails very well on that tack.

This went on for over two hours, tacking back and forth, the wind seeming to tack with us, and we only progressed about 200 yards up the lake. My pleasant sail after a 3 week hiatus, suddenly made very frustrating and took the rest of the wind out of my sails, (pun very much intended). So, with about 300 yards to go I threw in the towel and fired up the "Iron Jib" and made way toward the marina.

When we got back, I was so exhausted that I went below and laid down for a while and let the "crew" stow our sails and gear.

There is no moral to this story except that we are always at the mercy of Mother Nature and she can be a fickle lady; just when you think she is on your side, she will remind you of who is really in charge.

Dont forget to live a little

When planning and preparing for a retirement goal, sometimes we loose sight on whats right in front of us. Talking with my wife this past weekend, we discussed feeling like we were in limbo, between work and retirement and that nothing seemed to give us joy. I thought about that a lot and realized that tomorrow may never come. All of our planning and preparation can fly out the window in a instant": One slip and fall or a health problem and its over, and you will have lost out on some valuable time along the way.

Time; oh time, we could fill volumns writing about this elusive subject that always seems to slip through our fingers. Time is fleeting; I like a quote from a movie, (can you guess which one?) " You are never more beautiful than you are today". If you think about that quote; it makes sense because we are aging everyday and our lives are only a tiny speck in time. Youth is replaced by middle age before you know it, and old age is on the horizon. It's something we all must face, every breath of air in our toxic world brings us closer to the end.

If you are religious you would be much better off praying to Gods like Bacchus or Aphrodite; good food, wine, love and merriment abound. People in antiquity lived for the moment more than we do today. Their lives could be snuffed away from disease, war or famine in a heartbeat. They embraced their fleeting moments with gusto and were probably much happier people than we are. They had a passion that we can only dream about, you can see it in their art, their architecture, and their writing. They lived and loved like it would be their last day on earth, hence the saying " Carpe Diem" (Seize the Day).

I decided that preparing for retirement is a good thing, but living while I get there is just as important. I plan to enjoy my wine, my food, smile more, laugh more and be happy along the way. Oh, and of course sail more!

Early Morning Serenity

Does a tree falling in the forest make noise if no one is there to hear it? This is a question that is both simple and complex to answer, but I have different perspective to throw in there, Yes, it does. I say yes, because today while sitting on the stern of my boat and sipping coffee, watching nature come to life in the early morning, I first heard the crack of wood breaking, then the noise of something falling through the foliage and finally the crash of a tree hitting the forest floor. I can say yes, because I wasn't in the forest but observing it from across the small waterway that surrounds the marina.

What the tree falling has to do with serenity is a simple answer: Sitting this morning watching the birds rustling in the bushes, fish jumping in the water, and waterbirds diving for unseen fish, I realized that the choice Martina and I made to retire on a boat and our quest for serenity is the right choice for us. It was a serene setting and it gave me a good feeling. A feeling that people should take more time to just sit and listen and observe nature and see the beauty that is all around us.

We should not consider ourselves the masters of this planet but rather the stewards of nature. Serenity to me is coexisting with our surroundings and making the smallest impact on it. Sailing can take me across the ocean with only the wind to propel me: no pollution and no waste. Some people complain that sailboats are too slow, but isn't that the point? To embrace the journey? Slow down, observe the world around you, and you may see things in a way you never had before and come away with a greater understanding of our world and how we fit in it.

I want to sip my coffee every morning is a new destination, a new island, or a new continent and observe not only nature but human culture and history.

In search of a good nights sleep

 

Everyone enjoys a good nights sleep; but sleeping on a sailboat can be uncomfortable depending on the size of the boat and the layout of the berths. Our Catalina is no exception. It's rated to sleep 5 and I guess people were smaller in 1983 when our boat was made or they at least had shorter legs. Now I am not a tall person, a large one, yes, but average in height and 3 out of 5 sleeping berths aboard Aquilon are too short for me.

After spending a few nights on the boat in either the stuffy v-berth or in a modified fetal position on one if the salon cushions, I decided to re-engineer the sleeping arrangement in the boat.

I decided that I wanted a full length double bed but to achieve that I had to get creative.

I looked at all kinds of boats on- line and decided what I needed was a folding bed that would fit between the seats in the salon. The bed could be folded and stored in the quarter berth during the day and set up in minutes when ready for bed.

I took all of the measurements, sat down created a drawing of what I had in mind, visited the local lumber stores and purchased wood and hinges, and set about building my bed.

For those of you that know me, I am an amateur woodworker and have made several pieces of furniture: So, I have all the tools and just enough know- how to be dangerous.  I first made the wings of the bed and screwed the hinges on so it folded. The bed would need some supports underneath to hold the weight of 2 adults so I made 2 folding legs but quickly realized that because of the way it folded (with the seam pointed up) that I couldn't attach the leg and have to table still fold. After pondering a solution for a day or 2, it finally dawned on me how to make it work. I added a strip of wood between the halves of the bed that was the same thickness as the folded support legs, and repositioned the hinges on either side of the strip of wood.

 The bottom of the bed from the bottom






                                                                  The assembly folded

With the wooden bed base constructed my next stumbling block was cushions. Upholstery is expensive. It costs several thousand dollars to re-upholster the cushions on a boat. With that in mind, I wanted my cushions to be comfortable, look nice, and match the existing cushions as close as possible. I didn't want to spend a lot of money for this project, so I decided to make my own.

 I found a sewing machine on Craigslist that was decent (and cheap), watched several videos on YouTube demonstrating how cushions are made, purchased foam, an electric knife to cut said foam, sailrite marine grade fabric and set about making cushions.

             Cutting the material to size.

                                                      After the side panels were attached.

                                                                                                                 The finished product.

I am pretty proud of how they turned out considering I have never used a sewing machine or made a cushion before. The most rewarding fact, besides how they look, is the amount of money I saved, just over $150 including the sewing machine.

With a few minor adjustments and attaching the piano hinges for the rail to the sides of the boat, William (my son) and I, laid the bed in place and checked the fit. Now, I have been making things out of wood for a number of years and its been my experience that nothing fits perfect, but this bed assembly surprised even me and fit like a glove. We arranged the cushions and added a comforter that Martina (my wife) and I picked out purchased for the new bed.

                                                                 The bed frame installed

Another view installed

                                                           William adjusting the cushions

It turned out better than I expected and is very comfortable. Now I look forward to having a good nights sleep aboard Aquilon. With many years to go before we purchase our live aboard retirement boat, we now have the sleeping arrangements of a large boat on our little cruiser.

It's Raining

This is the time of year that I love to hate. One day it is sunny and 70 degrees and the next it is 40 and raining. I am anxious, of course, to get my sailboat in the water, but with rainy, windy days, her launch has been steadily pushed back. It is still very early in the season and many boat still pack the dry storage area of the marina, but, as I said "I am anxious". I have lots of projects to accomplish before she ever sets sail. All of these tasks have to be performed with the boat in the water.

Aquilon will be getting lazy jacks and with that, the new sail cover has to be modified to accommodate the lines for them. She is also getting a new blue Bimini boot to replace the ugly red weathered one she once sported. All of these newbies have to wait until the top side is power washed and waxed, and that requires her to be floating. I could take care of the washing and waxing on the cradle but I don't like the idea and standing on a slippery deck while it's 10 feet off the ground.

I am one of those people that has to constantly be adding or upgrading or redoing something on their boat. For me, maintaining and working on the boat is almost as rewarding as sailing her. We spent Saturday a week ago power washing her side and bottom, then removed any stains and gave her a coat of wax. She is sitting pretty on the cradle waiting for a weather window to be launched.

I miss being able to go to the marina and just walk in my boat and relax, have a hot cup of coffee or a drink or two. I also miss the feel of Aquilon gliding across the water, only the breeze propelling her. Relaxing, listening to the wind moving in the rigging, the ruffle of the sails when they luff and the snap when they fill again. Sounds that any sailor would associate with. I know that one day very soon she will be in the water and we will also be sailing, but after months of winter, I am a bit anxious.

Time Marches Forward

Time is one of those love- hate relationships that everyone has: There is either not enough time or things take too long. I remember when I was a kid during summer vacation; days seemed longer, and it took a lifetime before the next school year started. It felt so long, that even friends changed over the summer, with new hair styles, clothes and some even grew taller. As I have aged, time seems to have accelerated. Every year time goes by faster and faster, children grow into adults, and even though we want to slow things down and enjoy the moments, time slips away like water through our fingers.

As I sit and reflect on time and its relentless march forward, I know that I am on the back side of life and the downhill slide moves faster than the climb. I also know that my retirement will also be closing in. My wife and I, as many of you know, have plans to retire on a sailboat and cruise the Mediterranean, visiting many of the sites from antiquity . My only wish is that time slows back down after we retire so we can enjoy those moments that we have worked so hard to achieve.

February is the heart of winter, even though our thoughts are turning to spring, with the sun setting later in the day and the air, crisp and clean. My thoughts, however, turn to sailing this time every year, and time for me, becomes a hate-only relationship. I cant wait to get my boat back in the water! Every warm days makes me want April to hurry up and get here. I count the days to get things done on the boat so that when we launch, we can enjoy her right away.

Memories

Memories fade with time: The once vivid thoughts that accompany pain or pleasure dull over time, like the white wash on a weathered fence, leaving behind only a fragment of the rage or passion. Memories of loved ones lost also fade with time. I remember my Grandparents, even my Great Grandparents, but as the slow march of time rolls ever forward, the memories that I have change. A memory that I hated at the time, might make me laugh today, or possibly even cry.

Today is my Fathers Birthday, he passed away in 1984, he would have been 75 years old. Many of the memories that I carry about him are not pleasant, but some are. We never had a close relationship, and I regret that today, we were like two Bulls circling in a pin that was too small.

As a child growing up I was afraid of him. I was afraid to raise his anger because it usually ended with a beating for me. Many nights I went to bed with welts on the back of my legs, butt, and lower back, too painful to move and unable to sleep. Its not surprising that I avoided him at all times. Its hard for me to write this and I am sure many people will be shocked to read it, not knowing or thinking that my Father would be like that.

Even after all of the abuse, mental and physical, I still loved my father. When I was 18 he tried to fight me over some insignificant event, I cant even remember why now, I was strong and grown by then, but I wouldn't fight my Father, instead, I held him in a bear hug and spoke to him in a calm voice and told him that the time for beatings had come to an end. I felt the rage and fight leave him and he actually relaxed in my arms. He walked away and never laid hands on me again.

I left for college and then the Army shortly after that incident. My Fathers health steadily declined in the next few years, but we became closer, I guess I had finally earned his respect when I joined the Army. When I reflect back and try to understand his reasoning and methods, I realize that he wanted to prepare me for a life without him.

It may come as a surprise to some, but I don't hate him, not anymore at least. I don't agree with his methods at all, and I made a promise to myself years ago that I wouldn't treat my own children that way. I kept that promise and I am close to both of my kids. He was a hard man with hard ways and I always tried to measure up. I never gave up trying to earn his respect, even today I wonder what he would think about me and the path my life took. I like to think he is up there looking down on me with a smile on his face.

Happy Birthday Dad.