What is my blog description? It’s all about the Camino, writing, arty-doodles – nothing about boats – and yet and yet, boats and water have always been a large part of my life and my zeitgeist! This watery heritage was thrust upon me: when I was growing up, my home was a boat. That is totally another story, and since adulthood, I have lived on dry land, but there has been a boat lurking around most of the time.
My latest adventure is a new-to-me sailing boat. Just a small 11ft or so sailing dingy, but special and precious as I have been on a quest for a sailing dingy that would suit me for a wee while now.
For years we had a Mirror. That worked nicely for two adults and two children and later for me alone or with a friend. The Mirror class of sailing dingy is like the Volkswagen Beatle of the sailing world: sturdy, reliable and as you usually had to assemble them yourself, not expensive. My dear husband assembled ours when we were first married. We sailed her for 38 years and then she needed a great TLC overhaul. A wooden boat takes a lot of care and maintenance and we were not up to that anymore.
I wanted a plastic boat – well fiber-glass or a variation thereof! I bought a brand new spiffy Topper Taz, I ended up calling her Tippy Taz. This boat was a bad fit for not-so-young me; there was nowhere comfy for me to sit and at my age, somewhere to sit is imperative! We did not hit it off, and I guess the boat must have sensed my lack of love as I spent a lot of time capsizing into the lake, another activity I am not that keen on.
Update: last September I sold Tippy Taz to someone who is enjoying her. We gave away the Mirror to a young couple who are keen and have the skills to fix her up. Such joy to find loving homes for my fleet! Talking of my fleet – I still have the canoe and a tiny cute rowing boat – all 7 feet to her that is just great for the grandkids and me. But to fulfill my heritage, I did need a sailing craft.
I had located a boat that I felt would be for me, but it was in Quesnel, British Columbia, 845km away on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. This is where Neptune and King Canute came to my rescue in the form of Emory. Emory is a friend of my son-in-law and he had moved to Quesnel. I mentioned the boat to him and he said to would bring it to me! And he did. That was the kindest good deed ever!
So this July 1st Canada Day long weekend, the little boat and I took to the water and it is quite a love affair. I sailed all three days. She is sturdy and I can sit in comfort thank you very much! I feel she will be a perfect fibre-glass fit for me! My first day out there was a bit of gale, but the family and friends were all lined up on the beach waiting for the maiden voyage, so I had to go out. I survived. The next day was rather calm, so I could sort out the ropes and bits and pieces. And the next day was Goldilocks porridge just right and I went out for a very nice little sail, thank you.
Now, don’t ask me what class this boat is, that, I have not been able to track down. There is a bold B9 on the sail, but despite much Googling, it remains a mystery and I cannot find out where she was built or by whom. There is a registration number on the stern, but there again, it has not led me anywhere. So if you have any ideas, do let me know. I have not yet settled on a name for her…also open to suggestions. Thinking about Mystery or Emory….
