Sailing season

Sailing season has ended for me. It’s altogether too brief in Michigan. If one is lucky, the boat is ready by the middle of May. By the middle of October, it’s time. The trees near the lake have only a hint of fall color, as the warmish water postpones the colors seen inland. It’s cold. It’s windy. The daylight is hours shorter than mid-Summer.

In Spring, there’s anxiety. A date has been set for launch, not in stone, but fairly firmly. Can we get everything that must be done ‘on the hard’ (out of the water) before launch. Most often, yes. This past year we had to delay it a few days because we weren’t ready.

In the Autumn, the sailing days are less frequent. The best days feel like I’m stealing something from the season. I had that day early in October when I sailed six hours with Mari. The worst days are the ones where I feel like the boat should have been hauled out two weeks earlier. It is a season of sadness and regret. Regret for those sailing promises made in the Spring, but not kept. Sadness because there’s seven months before I can be on the water again. This year, haul out day was miserable. Wind gusting 40 knots, rain and snow mixed. 39º F. Marcia sprained her right ankle.

Sadness because the days are short, the sunlight dim. My seasonal affective adaptation comes into play. I want to stay in bed. I want to be warm. I want to hibernate. My very bright light comes out onto the breakfast table. More vitamin D is taken. I make plans for next year so I have a goal to work towards. Without something to look forward to, winter would last forever.

But onward we go, projects will be planned and parts acquired. I’ll visit Arcturus every month or so, try to find the best days to work on things. Hope for a mild winter, and a pleasant March to get her ready as soon as possible.