Summertime Blues

With summer rapidly approaching and as last years hardwater sailing memories begin to be filed away in the deeper part of the brain, thoughts for summer fun tend to blossom forth with unbridled passion. Many have already had the shakedown cruise in whatever water craft you choose and active racing has begun in earnest on soft water. Our local group, affectionately known as the, “Gene’s Beach Yacht Club”, has ,”most” of its fleet in the water. For years I was the only sailboat moored along a tiny strip on sand on our local lake.

Maybe 15 years ago, a Zuma made its presence and occasionally we would meet either sailing or post sail sit on the minuscule strip of sand. Occasional a Sunfish might join in. There would still be 6-8 motorboats from zoom zooms to small tin tubs for fishing, still leaving enough room for all. More recently, a Hobie Windrider trimaran joined the fleet and naturally an informal sail group happened.Word got out from friend to friend and last year the number of sails surpassed the number of motors for the first time since I moved here in 1987. Good news you may say but as you know the definition of a race is two sailboats on the same lake. Now I have been able to hold my own in a few of the local whole lake regattas over the years with several 2nds and one win, (on board marital mutiny caused the lead boat to drop out). I’ve sailed many craft and enjoy everything from sunfish to dinghies and cats. I enjoy leisurely sails but will always try to tweak an extra 1/10 knot of speed. My current craft, a home built ,”Flattie fourteen” plywood sailboat from John Garners book, was my retirement project and has been on the water for the last 8 years. It gets me around but is not the fastest in the fleet, but it suits me and is pretty. Anyway, the club unofficially sort of formed 5 years ago and any day with wind would find the fleet sailing about, sometimes chasing each other. Later afternoon would find captains and spouses gathered on the beach for celebrations of the day. A convivial atmosphere to say the least. Several sail lunches to an island have occurred as well. There has been an evolution over the last couple years that has been bothering me. I’ll blame it on Zuma lady who saw a Hobie Adventure trimaran sailing at the other end of the lake. She just had to have one of course. Clifford, the big red tri appeared on her mooring. Well, that opened the flood gates. She convinced two of her friends to buy the single version of the Hobie Islander. To add insult to injury, after trying for years to find the right boat for my wife, she deserted the monohull for one of these tris. (Yellow of course to match the others.) Now when you look out from shore, it appears to be a fleet of bumble bees floating about with a red mama watching over them. And finally another member who claimed to have the slowest boat joined the tri fleet too! So now I believe I can claim the title as the boat that allows a leisurely scenic afternoon sail.

That, you may say is enough to give any sailor the blues. However, the real cause is one of the unwritten bylaws of the unofficial club, (actually everything is unwritten) that is the, “Last/First” rule. This has nothing to do with racing, but order of launch. The last boat to be launched in the spring, and the first boat to be pulled in the fall, has to supply the beer,(or beverage) for the members. Only for the first and last gathering, not all summer just to clarify. Vacation trip last fall and projects and shoulder rehab this spring has bestowed upon me the great honor of being the purchaser of such refreshment. Alas fate sometimes is a cruel mistress.

I hope the only blues you all have this summer is music. Fair winds and following seas to you all, be it on salt or salt less water.