Getting Ready (Oct. 21-22, 2013).

If fear is the sticky glue that keeps boats stuck to the dock, the icy fingers of late fall are what pry them off. It has been in the 50’s, with nights in the 40’s, so it is definitely time to head south. We have no heat (or heater) on the boat. We all stay in bed longer than usual – no one wants to get out of the warmth and put on 40-degree clothes. Hal Roth, a highly regarded sailor and author of such books, wrote “There are tens of thousands of boat owners but very few sailors.” Most boats never leave the dock. We have been talking to other people at the marina about shoving off. A marina employee gave some good advice on sailing down the Chesapeake with regard to destinations and places to anchor. He then told us about a family with young children who had sold their house and put everything into their boat in order to “live out their dream.” He said they didn’t get too far down the bay before they ran into a shoal, destroyed the boat (it had 5 huge holes in it) and promptly ended their trip. Another tale was about a boat that capsized and, because the water was so cold, two of the crew didn’t survive. It’s these kinds of encouraging stories that make us eager to leave the dock…