kingfisher
Well-Known Member
Dear Captain Aubrey,
I met a fine lass right at the end of last years' sailing season. The fact that a 5-year old son was included in the package was gladly taken along. During the winter she lovingly helped me with a few choirs on board, mainly some painting. I kept her, being female and delicate, from the hard work such as replacing all the plumbing (including the head pump) and putting in a new ceiling.
I also introduced her to sailing the gentle way, by taking her to the adriatic and the Turkish riviera, on a plastic fantastic. But I reminded her that the fair ship "Obi-Wan", being of '70ies vintage, does not hold all of these creature comforts.
We have just returned from our first two weeks sailing on the boat.
I now have a bit of a problem. See, before, my boat was a last bullwarck of male pride. Men were allowed to grow beards. And there was only whiskey and beer to drink. Binoculars were mainly used on tracks close and parallel to the beaches. Camaraderie was a plenty.
No longer. I used to walk from the car for a weekend on board in one go: bag of clothes, backpack with charts and laptop, shopping trolley of food (mainly beer). Now it takes several back and forth trips with the marina wheelbarrow. Because now we also carry covers and pillows for the bunks, a full complement of toys, air freshner for the toilet.
What used to be eaten in taste with just a bowl and a spoon, now takes a fully decked table, including napkings and placemats. I had to buy new cuttlery this year anyway, and had a hard time convincing her that glass and china are not a good idea.
It is difficult to make her understand that yes, I could have spent a bit of time this winter to repaint the insides of the cupboards, but that I preferred to work on reservicing the raw water pump before the persistent leak would destroy the engine in an F6 near a lee shore.
It was also hard for me to explain that destinations are not decided at random. This was easily done by picking a destination against the tide. Doing 2 knots with 8 Nm to go at 2000h was not appreciated, but a lesson was learned.
And last weekend, the existence of the Obi-Wan as a male sanctuary was officialy over: we now carry a pirate flag. I know now what it feels to own a subaru Impreza with a baby seat in the back. The lions' heart still beats, but the claws and teeth have been pulled.
Oh, and the new curtains are arriving next week.
Does your ships still hold a berth?
I met a fine lass right at the end of last years' sailing season. The fact that a 5-year old son was included in the package was gladly taken along. During the winter she lovingly helped me with a few choirs on board, mainly some painting. I kept her, being female and delicate, from the hard work such as replacing all the plumbing (including the head pump) and putting in a new ceiling.
I also introduced her to sailing the gentle way, by taking her to the adriatic and the Turkish riviera, on a plastic fantastic. But I reminded her that the fair ship "Obi-Wan", being of '70ies vintage, does not hold all of these creature comforts.
We have just returned from our first two weeks sailing on the boat.
I now have a bit of a problem. See, before, my boat was a last bullwarck of male pride. Men were allowed to grow beards. And there was only whiskey and beer to drink. Binoculars were mainly used on tracks close and parallel to the beaches. Camaraderie was a plenty.
No longer. I used to walk from the car for a weekend on board in one go: bag of clothes, backpack with charts and laptop, shopping trolley of food (mainly beer). Now it takes several back and forth trips with the marina wheelbarrow. Because now we also carry covers and pillows for the bunks, a full complement of toys, air freshner for the toilet.
What used to be eaten in taste with just a bowl and a spoon, now takes a fully decked table, including napkings and placemats. I had to buy new cuttlery this year anyway, and had a hard time convincing her that glass and china are not a good idea.
It is difficult to make her understand that yes, I could have spent a bit of time this winter to repaint the insides of the cupboards, but that I preferred to work on reservicing the raw water pump before the persistent leak would destroy the engine in an F6 near a lee shore.
It was also hard for me to explain that destinations are not decided at random. This was easily done by picking a destination against the tide. Doing 2 knots with 8 Nm to go at 2000h was not appreciated, but a lesson was learned.
And last weekend, the existence of the Obi-Wan as a male sanctuary was officialy over: we now carry a pirate flag. I know now what it feels to own a subaru Impreza with a baby seat in the back. The lions' heart still beats, but the claws and teeth have been pulled.
Oh, and the new curtains are arriving next week.
Does your ships still hold a berth?
