What's Missing from this Picture?

Me and my dinghy, dangit!

Why is there nobody out there? It's blowing 12 kts and the sun is shining. Work is for suckers! Somebody get out there. Do I have to take charge again?

The Siren Call of Spring!

Oh, it is hella blowing out there today. And the sun is shining! It's a beautiful springy day in mid February. We are heading for 60 F and there's a strong, consistent NE wind blowing, which means straight up the river.

Check these beauties out:

Work is for Suckers

I'm gonna get fired, if I keep this up. My wife tells me so.

Is that such a bad thing? I know there's the whole 'money' thing, because we have to 'eat' and 'live' somewhere, but, hey, Larry Craig lost his 'job' and he hasn't killed himself. That guy doesn't even know how to get out of a closet.

I can find something that feeds my habit, right?

I was in the office at 6 and the glare on my monitor screen by 8 was making it very clear what kinda day it was gonna be out there.

I did some quick math in my head and realized I could stretch lunch to two hours and get in the work hours I needed with plenty of time to pick up the kids by five.

So, a quick lunch in the cubicle petting zoo, and I was off.

I launched and ran upriver/downwind to Staff Jennings Boat Center and asked about registration. Apparently, I am required to show some sort of ownership other than the fact that I showed up with the boat.

Their dock was a bit tricky with a swirling river current coming in and winds circling above. I eventually made it away from the dock and tacked back downriver to the club in six legs. The first couple were outstanding, with stiff 10+ kt gusters heeling the boat over and carrying me across the river as quick as I could handle it. Maybe a bit quicker as I was having to jump around to set myself up and make my turns.

I txted Jared and he made it down to the docks at noon. I slipped into the lee of the clubhouse and Jared came aboard for some more downriver tacking. We were able to cover the largest portion of the sailing ground in both directions and finish up at the club in about forty-five minutes. Wind was outstanding!

Kris is ready to move up to a keel boat, but I'm having so much fun, I can't imagine giving up the dinghy before the season is over.

I guess if I had an unexpected unemployment stretch, I'd be stuck dinghy-sailing for the summer .... Maybe it's time to take a stance. Not necessarily a 'wide' one (not that there's anything wrong with that), but a stance, nonetheless.

Let the Season Begin

Lucky with some dry, warmish Winter-afternoon weather (can I get a shout out for my friend, El Nino? Yeahhh!), I was off work a bit early and launched the dinghy for two hours+ of sailing today, despite my worry over how hard my fellow Portlanders were struggling under the jackboot of The Man.

I posted this first shot to let my brothers and sisters know that the revolution is being broadcast.

Then I took off upriver, downwind, and stretched my wings out to fly a little.

A couple of tacks back downriver and I glided into the clubhouse dock. I checked to find a VM letting me know the kids had a ride from school, freeing me up for another lap.

The wind was decent, so I went across the river a few times and tacked downriver toward Portland.

I fell off and the wind did, too, for the most part. I was able to make slow progress upriver, enjoying the partial sun and the quiet on the river. I situated my lifejacket to create the proper padding for my posterior and lay my head on the rail, the lightest ripple of wake behind me, as I contemplated shifting cloud shapes framing the lovely blue patches above.

I really love this sport more than just about anything I've done at this point in my life. I had fun at other things, but the ways that time passes when you're drifting, making reasonable way, or ripping in a good wind, are all so different and enjoyable.

I played with different sail shapes and angles, shifted centerboard height, and made way back to the clubhouse docks. As I was making my slow approach, I looked back downriver, and saw a line of ripples moving toward me. I came about and began reaching toward the East bank. As the wind filled in I brought her nose really close and tightened up the jib and main, slipped my body weight up on the rail, and really began to fly. I had to ease off the main once, to keep her from going to far over and I had as much of my body out over the water as I could possibly manage, as I made great speed.

A quick tack on the opposite side of the river and more of the same heading just down river from the clubhouse.

I fell off a bit as I neared the docks, furled my jib, raised the centerboard, and slid into the lee of the club, a very happy boy.

Ghost Hand

A little break in our wintery weather yesterday inspired me to launch the dinghy. Just about the time I would have liked to sail, however, a couple of 25+ knot gusts held me back. As my time window closed (I was due to pick up the girls from school), I decided to put the boat away and was thankful for the chance to go through the process of launching after 3 1/2 months of winter non-sailing. I don't think the flies and spiders that took up residency in my sail were happy about my choice, though.

I ran up the ramp to get the pickup and trailer ready. As I was heading back down the ramp I could see my mast over the clubhouse and it was moving slowly down the dock. There were a couple of college sailors hanging out on the dock, just near the boat, so I assumed they were moving it down for some reason.

There was also an instructor standing steps away from my boat and I could see him. Since he wasn't reacting, I assumed all was well.

As the boat moved, it was picking up speed.

I decided to step up my pace, too.

L & C is designed to handle four adults comfortably and sails great with a crew of three, two on the jibsheets and centerboard, while someone handles the mainsheet and tiller. I've sailed it a few times with just two and she does great. I've also sailed her many times singlehanded and found her pretty easy to handle alone.

Today I took it to a new level.

Fortunately, the instructor was able to run in and radio the club whaler that was out setting course marks. They towed my wayward dinghy back to the dock and I put her away.

First sail of the new year ... sorta.

Potential Opening Day

Looking for a weather window this weekend to get the dinghy out and make a couple of jibes on the river.

Fingers crossed!

Here's a goat movie to keep you entertained.

Poor Neglected Blog

Spent the past couple of weeks on Maui and the only sailing I've done is down the face of a few waves.

If I get a reasonably warm day in the next couple of weeks, I want to launch L and C for a little sail. I think I went a few times in December and January last year. Would be nice to get out again.

Work and vacation are overwhelming our lives right now. :)