Sailing takes me away...

Over the years, many songs have been written referencing sailing that have become popular for one reason or another. Rod Stewart, Chris Cross, Enya, and The Celtic Woman all have sung songs with lyrics that refer to this ecologically friendly, as well as relaxing form of transportation. With the summer vacations on hand, water activities most assuredly are part of the daily routine. Well, this year we had wind enough to make, even this neophyte sailor enjoy the whitecaps on the lake.

Three years ago, my brother acquired a sunfish sail boat for use on the local lakes and ponds of New England. He asked a resourceful next door neighbor where he might find an inexpensive sail boat, and when he said his brother-in-law might have one, my brother's ship had literally come in; the take it off my property and it's yours price was well within his budget too. After a little sanding, a few coats of marine grade paint, and a new set of sails, he had enough to make this vessel sea worthy again.

Typically during the dog days of summer, one might anticipate a paucity of wind. However, this year Mother Nature provided us with the wind to challenge our skills, and we made the most of it. Both at Wilson Pond and again at Saddleback Lake, we enjoyed some very healthy readings on the anemometer, enough so that there were white caps on the water. In spite of the "wind chill", it wasn't enough to deter our enthusiasm at all. It's not often that one gets to use the hiking stick on a sun fish, but thankfully, we had it under these circumstances because it was an absolute necessity. We crossed the ponds and lakes in what seemed like a moments notice, all the while enjoying primarily the sounds of the waves crashing against the hull. Naturally, we had the occasion to be baptized too, but that didn't matter because we were sailors.

After the nearly two weeks of vacation, we had to take the boat out for transport to its home base until next time. However, for a few hundred bucks, a little hard work, and the generosity of an individual, several of us enjoyed the solitude that makes sailing what it is, a modern day transporter. It allowed us to set our own course, utilize the tools of nature to propel us around those bodies of water, and escape the hectic lives most of us lead. Sailing does take you away, and hopefully, the winds continue until you come about to bring you home. Otherwise, you may just find yourself adrift, and that my friends would put most anyone into the doldrums!