Yesterday our precious little sailboat found her way back where she belongs. And yes, she floats!

It’s been a long and hard wait, but finally the new sailing season is here. Not that our projects are finished – far from it, but we can continue on the water. We managed to complete all the things that had to be done while on the hard, pushing 12 to 14 hour days during the weekends before launch. We’re exhausted, but happy!

This evening we motored the boat to her home marina, a couple of sea miles from the launching spot. It was still cold, but the sea was deep blue and the sun was shining. I docked the boat into her slip. It was my first time at the helm when docking, and I did it with a slightly different sort of a remote control than most – mine was a husband squatting inside the boat, in front of the engine, pushing and pulling the throttle and shift levers to my command.

It all went well, the sea was calm and there was hardly any wind. I don’t know what I’ve been afraid of about docking, but I’m sure I’ll be doing a lot more of it this season, and hopefully with a new mechanical remote control. Part of the excitement of sailing surely comes from knowing that something’s going to break, but you never know what and when! The good thing about it is you no longer feel like it’s the end of the world after it’s happened to you a few times. The bad thing is it usually costs money, but all in all sailors seem to be a resourceful bunch who will find a way out or around most troubles. I hope to become one of those sailors one day, and docking the boat with a human remote control was clearly a step in that direction!

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June 17, 2020

• Galicia Cold, Engine Hot!

July 2, 2019

• First Impressions of the New Cruising Life – and Gdansk!

June 10, 2018