Itch for Spring

I relax when my Lasers are put away for the winter. No more decisions as to whether the weather is compatible with my sailing mood; am I wasting a great windy day cleaning out the garage, or just protecting my Laser from an excessive beating? Will the breeze fill in or die out completely?

The decisions are gone, but so are the moments of pleasure at a perfect roll-tack, or at least perfect as far as I can tell. I miss the buzz of adrenalin as I drive to the club developing my goals for the day – being on the line at the horn with no cautious safety margin.

Now it’s the anticipatory season. The snow is melting on the cover of my club boat. I can see the wheels of the trailer peaking up above the snow. The backyard gate, which has been buried in snow cleared from the driveway, looks as though I could dig it out if I had to.

In my thoughts I begin to work the preparation list – I will need to clean and polish the bottom. Did I ever clean the blood off my regatta sail? How am I going to rig the mast hold-in line this year?

Sailing isn’t like sex, the anticipation isn’t better than the act. The anticipation is the warm-up time. I check to see if there is anything that can be done now, while the lake is still frozen – start those sit-ups, order those new sailing gloves, study the new rules.

When I put my Laser into hibernation I drop lots of things off my to-do list. This time of year, filling out that list refocuses me; do I want to put the numbers on my new practice sail or go out snowshoeing in the sun? Just a few more weeks and the winter decisions will be done.