Thanksgiving Day

We had planned to give thanks aboard our 25 foot Coronado sloop "Bogie" as we sailed her to our mooring in Winthrop Yacht Basin. That was more of a wish than a plan since the NOAA weather maps show high winds and low temperatures all along the Eastern seaboard. But Bogie still lies idle in her berth between two aging powerboats. She is like an old maid at a ball, all dressed up and waiting for someone to lead her out onto the floor.

I am so glad to see Bogie with the new gel coat and mast and rigging in place. She's for sale. We don't need two boats to divide our attention. Still, I will be sad to see her go. There's much history there. We sailed her from Boston to Maine in the summer of 2005. In April of 2006 we brought her down from Boston to Bridgeport. She's performed well and for a boat her age is in good repair.

Looking at these two old boats, Cornucopia and Bogie, I consider their histories. Bob passed through many difficult times with Bogie and his cat Babe the only constants in his life. Cornucopia is a testimony to our commitment to the live-aboard lifestyle. She is hopes and wishes made manifest. Not just our hopes, but the aspirations of previous owners also. I wonder who they were. Who brought her across the Atlantic? How did she fare in the warm waters of South Carolina. How did she end up donated to a church? What accident bent the binacle?

Bogie has answers more than questions. Whoever owned her was a careful person. There are staineless steel safety lines along the deck. She sat a long time on the hard waiting for Bob to buy her.

Boats have personalities and quirks, just like people. Cornucopia is roomy and comfortable, but isn't an easy boat to steer, hating to head into the wind. We haven't really sailed her because we spent most of the summer negotiating the Hudson, the Champlain Locks, and Lake Champlain. Then when we did get her back to Bridgeport, there were the issues of the leaking drive shaft. That made us hesitant to take her out until the repair was done. It's still not done, but she's on the hard now, waiting for that repair among others.

Impatient for spring and summer is how I feel now. Impatient to cast off the dock lines and head south. I take a deep breath and consider all that will go into preparing for that voyage and know the winter will be well spent.