Spring has sprung?

Painting sailboat bottoms to get ready for the spring sailing season - 12 Degrees West

Spring has sprung?

It’s the first day of spring, when my thoughts typically turn to boats and sailing. But, it’s snowing in NYC. Sigh.

Thoughts of sailing are generally what gets me through the long, cold winter (well, that and wine). And this winter has seemed especially long and cold. February was the coldest month in the city in something like 80 years. Everyone was done with winter when it last snowed two weeks ago. Today’s snow is kind of insult to injury.

So I’m willing myself to think warm, sunny thoughts. Soon, very soon, I’ll pull my sailing stuff out of storage and start getting my gear ready. The VHF will get charged up and the PFD will be tested. Boats will go back in the water, and weeknight racing will start again. I’ll feel the sun on my shoulders and the breeze on my cheek. I’ll resume obsessively checking wind readings and tide charts. There will be weekend regattas in the Long Island Sound, and regular post-sailing hangouts with fun sailor people. Sailing stories will be told. Dark & stormies will be consumed. Then more stories…and more rum…

There, I’m feeling better already. Welcome spring!

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