Blog Archives

Intermission

4/30/2016

Have you ever just wished the world would stop? A cosmic pause button like an iTunes movie?
To run out into the middle of the street and yell “hold on! Wait one second!”.
The problem with slowing down, taking a quiet path and living for the moment is that the rest of the world often ignores our good sense.
My life right now is all wheel drive, pedal to the metal, don’t dare to rest. But that isn’t me.
My mind is out of step. It wants to slow down. Rest. Take a moment.
I have no idea how to make it work. How do I take care of those I love and not ignore who I am?
I want to sit on the end of the dock and just watch the sun set.
I can’t. Someone needs me.
Their problems overshadow mine a thousandfold.
The slightest complaint sounds feeble.
I will do what I can. Be who I need to be.
I’m sorry.
That is all I have.

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April 27th, 2016

4/27/2016

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Yup, you read that right. The back end of the boat.
Most boats I know have the name and home port in some fashion painted or stickered on.
This isn’t a requirement, but it is a great way to tell people a little bit about the boat and where it’s from.
Ava Chantel is the name that came on my boat and the owner didn’t really know the origin. The name grew on me and in my mind I envisioned some stage dancer of the 20’s or 30’s. Flamboyant, a bit exotic and she would have had peacock feathers in all the right places.

I enlisted the design talents of Sarah, our illustrator, to come up with a logo to capture that idea.
The emblem you see on Ava’s transom is the result of Sarah's efforts and will be painted on this summer.
She will be an eye catcher!

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Q is for Quarter Berth

4/21/2016

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There are only two souls who may enjoy the storage options on a small sailboat.
The mentally unstable and the squirrel.
I think squirrels have missed their calling by not hiring out as ‘complex spatial’ advisors. Who better suited to stow things into tiny and barely accessible spaces?
They would also work for peanuts.

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P is for Pirate

4/19/2016

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P is for pirate, and in this case is also for privacy. Living on board in a marina brings with it social rules and boundaries as unique and varied as the inhabitants themselves. For example, when walking down the dock you glance at boats, but what if they are aft first and the companionway is open? Is it ok to look quickly? Should I walk eyes forward till safely past? And what if I accidentally do look and someone is looking back? What is the protocol? Does that change if it’s a guy or girl?

How do you handle the friendly company who strolls up at inopportune moments? You can’t ignore them, they know you are there. And don’t get me started about the guy in a dingy rowing up and knocking against the hull. He’s been watching and has picked his moment.

Last but not least is the ‘wanderer’. He pops by to say hello and though you are busy he can’t move on because he’s walked from three docks away and he knows you wont just send him all the way back without at least some conversation!

It took me a long time to realize that I’m in their world now and I’m the social misfit here. You can’t apply suburbia rules to this dock camaraderie. It won’t work and probably shouldn’t. There is a pirate code of behavior. It’s not always proper or convenient, but it’s heartfelt and honest.

Not a bad trade off I think.

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O is for Overboard

4/18/2016

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I once read a discussion about safety gear, harnesses and jack lines. It was written by a celebrated world cruiser who’s safety briefing to passengers stuck in my mind and I use it to this day. Basically and very simply, “Don’t fall off the boat”. Tell all your guests to treat the drop to the water as if it is 30,000 feet. In a storm it may be impossible to turn around safely, let alone find you.

I think it’s amazing how many deck items, cushions, tools, glasses, shackles, pins, fenders and cups refuse to follow my warning. They disappear at random or leap from the cabin top with the smallest wind gust. I’ve even had floor mats drown right at the dock. It’s very sad.

I’m certain it’s people like me who help keep the marine industry afloat.

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N is for Navigation

4/16/2016

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I can’t think of many things I enjoy more then going through charts and cruising guides. Its like reading an adventure and mystery novel all in one. So much information is out there on the smallest of harbors, bays and scenic little coves and yet you can still find spots that seem unexplored, orphaned because no one has written about them.

How many of us have read about some distant anchorage, then pulled out the charts to see what’s really there? It’s intoxicating. We can’t help ourselves. I’ll spend hours and hours late into the night hunting down references and the odd blog posts for destinations I may never see, but willingly spend the time dreaming about navigating there.

This is the explorer in us. You and I, we dream of the distant horizon and unseen shore, set a course, and go.

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M is for Mal de Mar

4/15/2016

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I once took an overnight charter fishing trip out of San Diego. We hit some very rough weather in the middle of the night and were forced to turn around. Every single person on board, including the captain and crew, got very very sea sick. Everyone that is except for and old unshaven (and drunk) gentleman who started drinking beer the moment we left the dock.

I get motion sick very easily and it always surprises me when someone else doesn’t. I guess you could say it makes me …….green with envy.

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L is for Landlubber

4/14/2016

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Landlubber: ‘A person unfamiliar with the sea or sailing’.

Sailors often demean those who have never been to the sea or on a sailboat. There is friction when these two worlds rub shoulders but to say there is equal animosity between the sailor and his land bound cousin wouldn’t be correct. It’s the sailor who has the problem. When we are not afforded the respect we think we deserve our feelings get hurt.

Get over it. I don’t think these folks have a clue how they come across to us, and I’m not sure they would care. So pour another rum, raise up the mainsail, and unfurl the jib! Be thankful you aren’t part of that world and move on. Literally.

After all, we can leave on our magic carpet and they cannot.

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K is for Kaleidoscope

4/13/2016

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A special thanks today to my illustrator Sarah Gayle, who's unbelievable talent make this possible.

I've been having a problem getting into my boat.
Not onto my boat, into my boat.
Here in the Pacific Northwest we are blessed this time of year with unbelievable sunsets. The breezes are still cold, the low pressure systems still influence all the weather is and does. Moisture leaden air pushes ashore, building massive formations, lifting the clouds so high it's hard to comprehend.

When I step aboard, whatever I'm carrying is set aside and I just sit down in the cockpit, taking a deep breath. My mind calms as I watch the changing sky. I can think clearer here and there is time to think. How often we forget to do that.
It's cold and I zip up my jacket, hands dig deep into pockets while the sky tries to teach me different colors.

My cheeks are getting cold but I can't make my way inside. Not yet. The sky still has dark purples edging on cobalt blacks to tease the patient watcher. I try and let the moment stand. I don't rush it. I'll know when to go in. Then there it is, nature has given a curtain call. The evening becomes black gray gray. Time to move inside where it’s warm and dry.

I always thought it a little silly when someone talked of spending time to watch a sunset. I think I'm beginning to understand. My time reference changes when on my little sailboat and it's ok to just watch the sky.

3 Comments

J is for Justifiable

4/12/2016

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The captain is responsible for the safety and actions of his crew. By accepting the position he accepts the burden of command.
Even on a small sailboat there are no committees. We don’t vote.
If a captain forgets this fact he is quickly demoted to crew by a simple show of hands.
If a crewman forgets, he becomes a passenger until put off at the next port.
This has been true as long as ships have sailed the oceans.

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