But at least to me the wind is free...

If you're not familiar with Old Zeb, take three and a half minutes and listen to his story, as sung by Larry Kaplan. My favorite line: "But at least for me the wind is free, and they haven't run out yet."

Not only is the wind free, but you don't actually use it; you simply borrow it, then you leave it behind for the next passer by. It's like a public library for energy!

Heaving to

A recent post on the Cape Dory message board motivates me to write this. The post was a question of how to quickly reef, from the cockpit presumably. The writer noted that in unexpected high winds, he couldn't leave the tiller and still maintain control of the boat.

Heaving to, essentially depowering your boat in otherwise overpowered conditions, is a basic, save-your-life sort of skill. Back the jib/Genoa, adjust the trim of the main, lash the tiller, and frenzy turns to calm, giving you time to think, time to reef, time to check the chart, time for lunch.

Boats heave to differently, so it's worth experimenting with your boat to see what combinations of sails/rudder works best for you.

Practice on an easy day, in a place with sufficient sea room, and watch out for traffic. Heave to on a starboard tack and you'll have right of way most of the time.

As your boat takes care of itself, and you relax, count on at least one good Samaritan to come along and ask if you're okay.

SCRUB!!!

Today was a great day to scrub the exterior... cabin top, deck, and cockpit. Boat soap, bucket and brush managed to change the color of the boat, from a sort of grey color back to white. Hard to know where all the dust, dirt and grime comes from over a winter where the boat's covered.

Some minor rigging tweaks, setting up the reefing lines and the like, are all that remain.

Back in the water!

Liquidity was launched on April 25th, and last I checked was happily floating in slip I24 at Marina Bay. I20's a bit occupied, as the marina's been installing new "J" docks, and the old docks and pilings are taking up my official space, but no complaints.

The Beta was a bit cranky with fuel flow, but otherwise started routinely. Batteries seem to have survived the winter just fine.

The boat's fully stocked, with most of what goes back on board loaded while still on the hard. Sails went on last week, in easy weather, and I managed a night on board despite cool overnight temperatures. With my annual trip to Stop & Shop behind me, both dinner and breakfast were prepared on board.

Small Change inflated and stayed that way (with a small leak in the floor I need to find) and carried the last of the gear from the ramp to the slip the old fashioned way.

Tested the Torqeedo outboard; the battery started the winter at 100% and is starting the season at 99%. That's amazing!

Cleaning continues. Can sailing be far behind?

Let the winter projects begin!

Yes, the basement is still a mess. No, not everything I've taken off LIQUIDITY has been stowed. No, not everything I've taken off LIQUIDITY has been taken out of the car!

There's been some progress: I've done some pre-storage triage, setting aside items that need attention and/or minor repair. In that regard, I've spliced a new dock line eye, and repaired/replaced two whippings.

Minor as it is, I managed one fun little crafts project: crafting a sheath from a well-worn sheepskin slipper that had seen better days. Folded in half, the vamp is just the right size for my knife, I used the original rawhide lacing, and the original holes in the vamp made it super easy to stitch. Matching eyelets on the back provided attachment points for the belt look. Picture shows the companion slipper and the finished product.

We're on the hard!

I completed the haul form last week... okay to haul anytime after the weekend. Tuesday morning came and so did the call from the Marina office. Liquidity is on the hard.

The season ends as it always does, with unloading remaining gear, winterizing the boat, and a winter cover of white shrink wrap plastic. At the same time, we begin the countdown toward Spring 2016: It's already November, so December, January, February is short, then about two more weeks and the cover's cut off! (Is the 2016 edition of Eldridge out yet?

My Summer Vacation

Okay, so it's actually OUR summer vacation, me, L and Bear, away for a total of seventeen days. It didn't all go according to plan, but it all worked out. The log looks something like this:

Friday, August 7 - Boston to Scituate, sailing half and motoring half. Relatively uneventful except for the phone call that L was needed in New York.

Saturday, August 8 - L disembarked, got a ride back to Brookline and then drove to New York. Bear and I departed late morning in order to time the current change at the Canal just right. We had a nice little breeze, a broad reach, just light enough that we needed to motor most of the way. We did hit the Canal on time though and had an easy transit, continuing on to Red Brook, where we anchored at Bassetts Island.

Sunday, August 9 - Showers forecast, with a gusty North wind (to 25 knots). Perhaps a great breeze for a sail to Cuttyhunk, but single handing with Bear on board, I opted for another night at Bassetts. The sail to Cutty would be easy enough, less so grabbing a mooring alone in a big breeze. The great nightmare would be getting to Cuttyhunk and finding no moorings in the pond; not a problem usually, but with a North wind I didn't want to be outside!

Monday, August 10 - Bear and I had a nice sail to Cuttyhunk. No rush, and lots of moorings available when we got there.

Tuesday, August 11 - RAIN. Not rain, RAIN!!! The challenge was finding the lighter, drizzly parts for taking Bear ashore. Otherwise, a long day inside.

Wednesday, August 12 - L is on her way back to Boston, and Bear and I left Cuttyhunk for New Bedford, in anticipation of a Thursday morning rendezvous. It was a great 10 mile sail, on a beam to broad reach the whole way.

Thursday, August 13 - The bus from Boston to New Bedford was on time and L was back on board. With no wind, we motored back to Cuttyhunk.

Friday, August 14 - With L just starting her vacation, we stayed in Cuttyhunk pond, walking and exploring beaches.

Saturday, August 15th - Got through to the Menemsha Harbormaster on the second try and managed to wrangle a mooring reservation. Through Quicks Hole and across Vineyard Sound, sailing about half.

Sunday, August 16th -  Lots of walking in Chilmark. Lots!

Monday, August 17th - Stopped in to see Everett Poole, of course.

Tuesday, August 18th - Time to ride the current to Lake Tashmoo, an easy ride on a broad reach. We did take note of the Coast Guard patrol, advising us to keep our distance from the beach, a reminder that is was both our vacation week and Obama's.

Wednesday, August 19th -  Too relaxing to leave Lake Tashmoo!

Thursday, August 20th - Okay, how about one more day.

Friday, August 21st - Heading home now, back across Vineyard Sound, through Woods Hole, and back to Bassetts Island.

Saturday, August 22nd - This was the first sailing day in the rain, and even then, just a light drizzle. A little breeze would have been nice; it's a long way on the motor to Scituate.

Sunday, August 23rd - Last day... FOG! Less than a quarter mile visibility, increasing a bit as the morning went on, then closing in again inside Boston harbor. Go figure.

For as long as we were away, we made fewer stops than usual, excluding the side trip to New Bedford, of course. Wind was light for most of the trip and the sailing wasn't great, but with long stays in port, it was very relaxing. No complaints.

Best quote of the trip, overheard on Squid Row in Menemsha: "Any day you're here to complain about is a good one." Amen.