November 1, 2009

Sailing, we are sailing...



When you spend years re-building a boat, you stop sailing, you stop hanging out together and, if you’re not careful, you stop dreaming. Every weekend, and often weeknights, Evan would head to Ceilydh. Sometimes I would tag along with Maia and we’d all install hatches, lay-up fibreglass and remove old fittings. But mostly Evan worked alone. The project, while often fulfilling, also wore us down - it taxed our marriage, diminished our bank account and pulled us away from family and friends. If ever there were a time I longed to just go sailing - this was it. But instead, the tasks stretched on.


Then you hit the point when you're done, or done enough. And nothing can compare to that moment when the wind fills your sails and you're free. When you sail to the next harbour, with a warm breeze on your face and a dream in your mind, it's almost possible to forget what it felt like to miss yet another event because you had fibreglass to sand.

Ceilydh hasn't sailed since Oregon. We've put plenty of hours on the motor, but it's sailing that first brought Evan and I together and sailing has been what's propelled us through our years.


Evan likes to beat the pants off of the other boats. I like to gather friends and family and combine all the elements I love best. Both are good ways to sail.


Steve and Irma (before there was a Maia, Ellie or Clara) shared in our dream about someday owning a boat and sailing away. Later they sailed with us on little Ceilydh once we reached the east coast. They came with us today to test our repaired rig and see us off as we start south again.

Our day was perfect. The sailing was perfect.

3 comments:

boatbaby said...

Yay! Fair winds

claire said...

I am so happy to hear this! Right now we are still at the rebuild stage, and I understand all the 'taxes'. We are so looking forward to the day when we untie the lines and head south... but we still have a bit of time before then! *sigh* We must keep to the dream and stick together, no matter what distractions try to jam their way in there! Your blog is such a nice thing to turn to when we feel overwhelmed with all the 'normal' life stuff! Enjoy!!! :) We will be joining you soon enough... kids and all!

Diane, Evan, Maia and Charlie the cat said...

Hi Claire,
Thanks for the nice comments. I can be tough to keep going sometimes - even the alternatives start to look mighty nice when all you feel like you do is work toward some undefinable 'someday'. Enjoy the process as much as you can!
And we'll look forward to seeing you in some harbour somewhere;)