We started sailing over twenty years ago at an age when most people start to think about giving it up. It has been a wonderful adventure for us. The first week is always the hardest. Muscles have to be re-set, memory has to be re-called, balance has to be re-coordinated, dietary considerations become complicated. Did we bring enough warm clothes? Did we bring too many warm clothes? On a boat there is no room for un-needed items.
Life, and especially life on a sailboat is based upon knowing responsibilities, predicting the unpredictable and solving problems. One must know which way the wind is blowing – and that it is constantly changing. One must also know the currents – and those too are constantly changing, It’s really a rather silly thing to own and live on a sailboat, even just for the summer. Why would anyone do it? For something else which is difficult to define and impossible to explain. Something about the soul.
Nevertheless, here we are in our second week of this summer aboard. Last week on our first jaunt we tested our new sail. Quite well done. And we were entertained by the two USCG helicopters practicing basket retrieval maneuvers. Although as they got closer and closer to us, we became a bit concerned about the effects on our sailing from the wind of their blades. Just another little problem to solve. It was an enjoyable sail despite the predicted winds of 5-10 knots turning out to be over 20. Lots of heeling. Lots of muscles. Lots of memories.
Before our next sail, we have to replace a broken radio mike, get the belt on the engine repaired, fix the latch on the hatchway, replace a mooring line float, and blow up the dinghy which keeps losing air. This is it’s sixteenth year of losing air.
We did enjoy some great bottles of wine while watching some beautiful sunsets this week. We even got to see a rainbow embedded in the clouds – we had never seen that sight before. We also dealt with a few foggy days so we had a little time to send some pictures and stories for the web site. Our daughter is working on all that technical stuff she does to get it online. Now if I can just remember which pictures I have already sent and which stories I have already told . She did mention to me that I could post the stories and pictures myself but then I would also have to remember my password. When did remembering stuff become such a chore? I did mention we are both in our seventies didn’t I? I can’t remember.
Time now to go blow up the dinghy.
