The Sailboat Tara

Sunrise at the marina is always beautiful, no matter which marina you’re in or why you’re up so early. This morning we were up before the sun in preparation for our early haul out, pressure washing and refit.

I have a little French Press coffee pot trick to conserve water. A normal French Press has to be rinsed well to remove the old coffee grounds after each pot. Instead of putting the coffee directly into the pot, I put it into a little bag. Once the coffee is brewed, the bag comes out, grounds get dumped into the trash and after the remaining grounds left on the bag are dry, they can easily be brushed off. The grounds stay contained in the bag and the pot doesn’t require a lengthy fresh water rinse.

    
After breakfast  we started the arduous task of packing the car with many of our worldly boat possessions in preparation for being on land for the next month. Here’s where our adventures in nautical refitting starts, beginning with a pressure washing ahead of  painting the bottom. The bottom wasn’t nearly as dirty as we thought it would be after sailing in the river and bay for two seasons.

After the pressure washing we were moved to blocks adjacent to the marina’s workshop. Our long list of refit items may include a diesel and sail drive overhaul, solar panels, rudder hardware adjustment, windlass installation, rigging check and adjustment, bottom painting, and stainless steel bimini supports. A refit isn’t the most exciting sailing adventure we’ve ever had but I’ll take a boat refit over a house in the suburbs any day of the week.

“I have seen them riding seaward on the waves
Combing the white hair of the waves blown back
When the wind blows the water white and black.

We have lingered in the chambers of the sea
By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown
Till human voices wake us, and we drown.” – Eliot