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May 17, 2009
Stretching Prana's Legs
Mothers' Day weekend was a weather washout for us. Saturday was pea soup fog and no wind so we did boat chores. Sunday we woke up to 30 knot winds, so walked the park next to the marina and headed into the city for a run along the Hudson.
This weekend wasn't much better but we got off the dock finally. We had a late night Thursday at the Jazz Foundation fundraiser at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Amazing! Then a late night dinner with friends Friday night in Jersey City. I worked with my friend Toby on his First 46 over there (the hull is covered in blisters), then met the gang for dinner. I was a little bedraggled with fiberglass in my hair, etc. Oh well.
Normally we spend Friday night on the boat but it was so late we stayed in the city - got up early for a run, then hopped on the train. We left the dock around 2, sailed past our friends in the Stamford Yacht Club annual boat parade, then headed out for a sail. Despite the overcast skies, we had south 10-15 knot winds - perfect!
We pulled into Oyster Bay on Long Island around 5, just as the intense cold front approached. The winds were gusting to 25. We dropped the anchor just off the beach. We have 150 feet of anchor chain, and let almost all of it out. Two other boats joined us. It's always nice to have company. We anchored alone in Dominica on Platina and I slept with my righing knife and our high intensity spot light- to blind a burglar.
I woke this morning to heavy rain and no wind. The front was over us. At 6 I rolled over to fall back to sleep. By 6:15 the winds picked up to 25 knots, now out of the northwest. The front had passed. We will linger here this morning. The rain stopped by lunch, and the winds dropped to 10-15 in the afternoon. Perfect!
We beat back to Stamford into the wind.
I can't imagine a more precious way to spend a weekend - quality time with the love of my life, doing something we love to do, together, with an overwhelming sense of respect for nature's unpredictability.
Next weekend is the long weekend here. We plan to sail out to the Thimble Islands off the Connecticut shore. May 28 to June 7 we are sailing, hopefully to Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Block Island. Chis' first vacation since last August (except for three days in Miami).
Life is beautiful.
Posted by dave at May 17, 2009 07:46 PM