Towards the end of summer, just when school was looming in the near future, Lina and Pete ordered us out in the boat. For Lina, it was her first and last cruise of the season. Pete had been slightly more active, but not necessarily IN the boat. He actually is more into sailboats as diving-platforms. But today, the weather was right for a few hours under sail.
 

I rigged the boat with the new genoa and hoisted the main while Lina steered us out of the harbor. Pete gave her plenty of good advice before retiring to the bow. Lina sailed for a while, but all the work tired her quickly and she called for a change of the watch. After some grumbling, Pete did his stretch while the ol' man watched the sails.

The same old story
Things ended up as they usually do... and everyone gravitates toward what they love best. Tom takes command of the sailing, Lina sprawls in the sun and Pete dashes around pulling on lines and splashing in the water.
 
 
 

Before we know it, our time is more than gone and someone has probably given up waiting for us back home. Nothing new under the sun.

The tao of sailing
We head about and start on the run for home. I learned from my own father that 'when you are not going anywhere, then go up-wind.' I have found that to be a good rule, and not just in a sailboat. When the time comes to fall off and head for home, you have the wind at your back, the waves in the transom and spread-eagled with no room for trimming.

We had a nice run home. It is always amazing how the wind seems to die away on the homeward leg. The boat takes on that soft roll timed by the press of sail against the motion of the waves. All you hear is the chuckling bow-wave and the creak of the mast in the masthole. We hardly move at all. But we must be flying because we are outside the harbor in no-time.

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