Sailing Season Here at Last!

Spring weather finally made it to Missouri. When a late afternoon meeting was cancelled, I called Suz. "Let's go sailing!" She shut off her computer and headed home. We were packed and headed to the lake listening to Jimmy Buffet and Eric Stone.

We plotted and planned to be as efficient as we could be to minimize the time in the slip and mazimize the time sailing. We arrived at the marina at about 4:45. To our surprise, Sail La Vie was sailing out of her slip!

We grabbed a cart and headed for "Dragonfly." Our plan was flawless. Suz released the bungee cords on the winter cover while I pulled up the bubbler. We folded the cover and threw it in the cart. I ducked below, turned on the battery power, opened the engine through hulls and grabbed the Genoa while Suz opened the lazarette for the gib sheets and wench handle, and to stow the companion way doors, pedestal cover and wench covers.

We had just finished hoisting the genoa when we heard an excited "Ahoy Sailors!" Shirla, Dennis and their little dog Fritz were on the dock. "Come aboard" Suz instructed as she started the diesel. I caste off the dock lines and glanced at my watch...5:15. We had made great time.

Suz at the helm with a glass of wine March 18

The warm breeze blew us gently down the lake. A bottle of wine later, we returned to the dock. It was a short sail, but a good one. Sailing season is here at last.

Dragonfly back in her slip as the sun sets March 18

Let's go Sailing!

That's what Suz said when I got home from a week at an out of state conference. "It was 55 degrees and sunny today. It's supposed to be warmer tomorrow.

I looked at the weather on my PDA...cold, windy with a chance of rain. Oh well, it had been several weeks since we had been up to Dragonfly. It would be fun to go up to the lake.

Suz was up early and ready to go. She had on her new Nautica jacket, Lattitude & Attitudes "Love for Sailing" t-shirt and new West Marine boat shoes. She gave me time for a cup of coffee before we pulled out the sails and new safety tether and head for the boat.

"What's that?" Suz said with dissapointment as we pulled into the marina parking lot. The lake was covered with ice. Only the marina was open.

From March 6

"Maybe we can still put on the sails and motor through the marina to open water on the north," Suz suggested as we loaded the sails in a cart and headed for the boat. Her plans changed quickly when we got to Dragonfly. The wind blowing off the ice was cold!

We stowed the sails, checked the other sailboats in the marina and headed to lunch at the Rustic Oak Cabin before heading home.

The weather forecast suggests the ice will be gone in a few days.

Sea you at the lake soon.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MTLSAphotos/March6#