San Diego: water, joy
San Diego: water, joy
After a succession of perfect days, today wasn’t.
Coastal clouds never burned off, and when I went for a walk along the river channel to the breakwater this afternoon, I was glad to be wearing Polartec. We’re not talking freezing here. The temperature was in the high 50ºs, but it wasn’t t-shirt weather either, as last evening was.
I’ve had a quiet day, spent mostly sitting at GANNET Central. Approaching 7 p.m., I am at Central now, with a plastic of boxed red wine at hand. Laphroaig always gets crystal. Box wine never. And in between is uncertain.
Yesterday I Deks Oljed the interior wood and applied sealant to the forward hatch.
After Carol and I went sailing a week ago, there were a few drops of water on the v-berth. Upon examining the hatch, I saw places where there seemed to be gaps, so I applied some Life Calk. However, when it came from the tube it was watery. I looked at the tube and found “Liquid” on the label. I’ve used Life Calk for decades and didn’t even know there was a ‘liquid’ version. It was too late then, so I went ahead. This morning some of the ‘liquid’ had yet to set. I have another tube of real, non-liquid, Life Calk and will apply some tomorrow. That I may ultimately replace that hatch is still under consideration.
Both days I read the Portuguese Nobel Laureate, Jose Saramago’s, RAISED FROM THE GROUND; listened to music; watched reflections on the water and birds, one of whom, this black-crowned night heron, briefly visited GANNET. I let him stay only long enough to take two photos before chasing him away. The other was better, but the camera’s auto-focus chose GANNET’s main sheet instead of the bird, something my eye did not enable me to see at the time.
And was happy just to be on the water.
That I have known despair is a matter of record. My life is, as it were, an open book. Or books. But I have known such joy. Perhaps it is a gift of evolution that the good remains more vividly in our memories than the bad. But I have known such joy, and still do, even on quiet days, when “I can sit with silence on the gentle sloop,” (if you don’t know the reference, go to the poetry page) and am always fully aware of it.
GANNET is a sloop, thus far gentle, as was RESURGAM and THE HAWKE OF TUONELA. EGREGIOUS was a cutter. CHIDIOCK TICHBORNE a yawl. Rig really doesn’t matter, except that I think the yawl has decided advantages for small open boats.
Dinner tonight was Mountain House Beef Stew, a long time standby, improved by adding boxed red wine. Last night was a test of Almond Chicken. Not a keeper. Few almonds. Little chicken. Very, very bland. Good rice ruined.
Two items deserve comment.
The TreadMaster in the cockpit is dramatic.
I’ve used Treadmaster on the companionway steps of other boats, but not on deck.
TreadMaster is hard on the knees, as I learned while handling the jib sheets as we beat out the channel a week ago, but provides unparalleled grip. Noticeably better whenever I step into the cockpit, even here at the dock.
It lasts almost forever with no maintenance. Certainly what I’ve put on GANNET’s cockpit will outlast me.
Treadmaster’s added weight and expense are worthwhile trade-offs.
I might put some on the foredeck, but I don’t normally have to go there.
I have reconsidered the NaviSafe light.
Some of you may remember that this is a Norwegian made, hockey puck size, LED, available in various configurations. I bought a tri-color and it’s rail mount, hoping to use it as a nav light.
Last summer on the bow pulpit it did not remain secure in 20 knots winds on Lake Michigan.
GANNET’s new mast will have a masthead tri-color LED, so the NaviSafe is no longer needed as a running light. I have since thought that it might have been better positioned on the stern rail rather than the bow.
The light itself is exceptionally well made, and my model has several different settings, from tri-color to single red, green or white. On white it has become my cabin light of choice.
It does not provide blinding illumination. On GANNET I don’t need much, and on the ‘white only’ setting it runs for more than 100 hours. I have yet to change the three AAA batteries I put in early last year.
As I’ve been writing the sun has set. Twilight has given way to darkness. I’ve finished my plastic of red wine.
Two birds just flew past the companionway.
A life of water. A life of joy.
I wish you joy.
Saturday, April 13, 2013