It Could Be Winter Already

SHIP'S LOG:

     Since winter actually begins the moment ABISHAG is lifted from the water, it could be winter already! With friend Fred, I brought ABISHAG from New London to her winter home in Portland over the weekend.  It was a two day trip, not because it needed to be but because  it was part of the TYC cruise, the last one of the season.  As a part of that cruise, the boats from TYC stopped for Saturday night at Hamburg Cove. There we had a potluck supper and a Birthday Party for Morgan, the 9 year old nice of one of the members. The sail into Hamburg Cove from New London was what you might call a "rollicking" good time - 17 to 20 knots of wind and 6 foot waves.  Since the tide, the wind and the waves were all heading down the Sound, we made excellent time and the ride was pretty comfortable, at least until we tried to get into the breakwater at the mouth of the Connecticut River.  Making that turn put the waves on our Starboard stern quarter, giving ABISHAG a pretty good roll and slapping her stern around. It was of course at the moment that somebody with a large boat, lots of money and not a lot of sense decided that he wanted to get inside the breakwater ahead of us. Since he was motoring and we were sailing, we technically had the right of way but he acted as if we were not even there, so we didn't push the point. However, what goes around comes around. As we approached the Lyme Railroad Bridge, it was in the raised position but the tender announced that it would be closing in one minute. The large boat "idiot" called the tend er and ask if he would hold the bridge as he was only 1/8th of a mile away. Truth be told, he was  closer to a mile away and the tend, who could see him from his perch simple said "No." So Mr. Large-Boat, Lots-of-Money, No-Brains had to wait around just like everybody else.

     I went up to Portland Tuesday to take the sails of the boat and get my clothes out. It was a beautiful day and that made the tasks, if not pleasant, at least a great deal less onerous. Everything will remain on the boat until she is hauled and up on stands. Then I intend to strip her completely, taking absolutely everything out. This will give me an opportunity to clean and repair everything I remove and to discard everything that I really don't need. A Boat is sort of like that "what-not" draw everyone has in their home. It attracts all sorts of items you use once and then don't want to throw away less you need them again. There are also bunches of spare parts and a surprising amount of stuff you didn't even know you had.  Once I get it all out and get done all the repairs that are needed, I can "carefully" select what goes back aboard and what goes to the TYC tag sale. In addition, getting all the stuff out will be necessary for the work that needs doing, including removing the overhead. I vow that the deck leaks will be found and corrected this spring!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!