This past weekend, probably counter to just about everyone who is planning to go sailing south for the winter, living on their boat. We participated in a Regatta over the weekend, and didn't do badly at all considering the race crew is relatively new to sailing. Placing 4'th overall and second in class means we were definitely contenders, and if we can just tune our performance on the line and in tacks we're going to do great next year.
Anyway, I digress... we are basically trying to get out of town... So, why are we racing? Well, I am of the belief that time on the water is everything. And the risk of breaking something near home is better than breaking while we are underway trying to get somewhere; contrary to what Captain Ron says. That said, we finished a nice day racing on Saturday afternoon and suddenly found ourselves without enough battery power to run the electronics on board, let alone start the diesel engine!
Well, here we are; on a sailboat and unable to start the engine to get back to the dock. What are we going to do?!?? Sail in of course! After much cursing, and lots of stress, and even a few laughs we found our way into the slip after just a few short minutes of sailing, then 45 minutes of kedging off the sand bar into the slip.
So, why are we sailing in a regatta just a few days before we are to begin our journey? The answer to me is "because we can and should". I consider a sort of "shake-down" and a way to ease into being on the boat more often that not.
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