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oldengineer1949
1st Mate

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USA
75 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/21/2016 : 12:51:27

Well, it's too damn hot! Doctor won't let me stay out in the heat, and we've got a scorcher of a weekend coming up. Sooo, since I can't be sailing, I can at least think about my boat. Please join me as my imagination wanders...

The sky was deep blue without a cloud in sight, and only the

slightest of breezes gently ruffled the water's surface as Ole

OldEngineer stepped off the marina slip's finger dock and

boarded his nautical companion, Pualani Nui, a Swing Keel,

Standard Rig Catalina 25. Ole could feel the sweat begin to

roll down his back and soak his t-shirt, as the oppressive heat

and humidity of the Potomac River July day closed in around him

like a hot, moist blanket.

"Dang, it's hot already, and it's only 10 in the morning!" he

grumbled, then remembering why he was here, continued; "Aloha,

sweety-boat! Still afloat, eh? Good girl!"

Ole heard the soft, liquid voice of his boat reply, "Aloha E,

Skipper! Welcome aboard! Hardly any rain since you last

boarded sir, so my bilges are really dry for a change. Please

open my hatches, I am roasting to death in this sun!"

Ole replied, "I'm on it lassie, jest hold yer 'taters ..."

The Old Salt unlocked the cockpit lazarette, the companionway

hatch, and removed the weathered hatch boards, gently stowing

them down in the cabin off to one side. His arthritic knees

protested as he descended the companionway steps into the cabin,

then made his way forward to open the fore-peak hatch.

"There, that should get some circulation going, lassie." Ole

said, as he slowly made his way back to the dinette seats, and

lowered his body down behind the table, knees still protesting

his every move.

"Skipper, I heard that groan! Are your knees still bothering

you?" A tinge of concern colored Pualani's gentle voice in

Ole's head.

"Ah, nothin' a spray of WD-40 wouldn't fix, or better yet two

fingers of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey!" Ole chuckled, as he

settled himself on the dinette seat, and reached for Pualani's

logbook.

Ole's voice grew serious, and cleared his throat as he began

writing in the logbook; "Ahem! Pualani Nui, I am hereby

convening a Captain's Mast, to address certain unacceptable

behavior on your part, observed during last month's sail with

the Admiral on-board." (see earlier post "Current? What

current?")

"Eep!" a soft gulp was all Ole heard from his boat, as he

continued to scratch away in the logbook.

Ole sighed, and relaxed his tone of voice: "Pu, you smacked the

Admiral right upside her nose with your backstay tensioner yoke,

causing her to go below to staunch the bleeding! Also in the

ensuing confusion, you hit her shins with your companionway

steps, not once but twice! Lassie, what got into you? I

thought you liked the Admiral..."

Ole could hear the tremor of imminent tears in Pualani's voice

as she replied; "S-s-skipper, I didn't mean to hurt her, it's

just ... well... You love her more th-th-than ... ME!" She

burst into tears, sobbing so loud in Ole's head that he thought

a thunderstorm had suddenly broken out.

"Ah, nuts! Come on, Pu, shut off the waterworks! Those

crocodile tears won't work with me! And oh by the way, I love

you both, just in different ways!"

Ole could hear Pualani choking back the tears, as she sniffled;

"you do? Oh, Skipper! I - I love you, a-and the Admiral too!"

Ole smiled gently, then the tone of his voice sharpened again:

"That is all well and good, but shipboard discipline must be

upheld here. Ahem! Pualani Nui, it is the judgement of this

Court that you shall remain in your slip this weekend; no

sailing for an entire week."

"Aww, Skipper, com'on! Can't we ..." Ole cut Pualani off with

a gruff "AHEM! And what is the correct response, young lady

boat?!"

Pualani gulped, and replied softly, "Aye-aye, sir."

Ole softened his voice again, and said: "besides Pu, I can't be

out in this heat. Doctor's orders, no stressing my heart.

After the attack, the stent and the remaining 40 percent

blockage, I can't handle high heat and humidity any more, like I

could 20 years ago. I have to face reality, lassie, I ain't as

young as I used to be. I'm strictly a fair, um, cooler-weather

sailor now."

Ole snapped the logbook closed; "ok, Pu, it's time to button you

up now."

Pualani replied, with gentle love in her voice; "Aye-aye,

Skipper. I miss you, the Admiral and your sweet little First

Mate grand-niece. I will be here, whenever you can come sailing

on me. Please rest, and get better, Skipper."

Ole sighed, and began to close up his beloved sailboat,

carefully closing the hatches and fastening all locks.

Ole stepped off the boat, walked slowly to her bow, and placed a

gnarled but still firm hand on Pualani's bow pulpit.

"Pu, sweety-boat, I promise we will get some quality sailing

time in this fall, as soon as the heat breaks. You hang in

there, and stay afloat, hear?"

"Aye-aye, Skipper! Will do. Aloha and a hui hu, Skipper. Come

back soon."

Echoes of Pualani's soft voice slowly died off in his head as

Ole made his way slowly back up the marina dock ramp, stopped at

his big GMC truck 'Tater's driver-side door, and looked back.

"soon, God-willin' and the crick don't rise..."

Al and Bernadette, "Pualani Nui", '82 C25 SR/SK, homeport MCB Quantico

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
9013 Posts

Response Posted - 07/21/2016 : 18:29:35

Brought a wry smile, because boy, can I relate!

The old ticker doesn't like the steam-heat. (You have more down there than I do here...) And the knees are pushing toward a first replacement, probably late fall/winter... Doing anything about yours?

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

oldengineer1949
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
75 Posts

Response Posted - 07/22/2016 : 06:36:54

Dave,

fortunately the knees are only in early stages of "spontaneous disassembly", so good steel-hinged knee braces suffice along with daily doses of glucosamine/chondroitin that keep me stabilized. I have put on 20+ pounds these last two years post-heart attack, but I blame that all the ding-busted heart and blood thinner pills I have to take

to keep the stent from clogging.

The upside? I am still upright, clothed and in my right mind! (mostly). Best of all, I can still sail (as soon as the heat breaks).

With my wonderful wife's best friend moving east close to us, her daughter has become my First Mate, and her brother will soon join us as well. I will have a full crew complement! Pu won't know how to act, she'll be so happy with all that young crew crawling all over her topsides

Life is good.

Fair Winds, and Following Seas, to you and yours, Dave, and all my virtual shipmates on this awesome Forum.

Al and Bernadette, "Pualani Nui", '82 C25 SR/SK, homeport MCB Quantico

ruachwrights
Captain

Members Avatar

USA
258 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2016 : 09:05:40

Good writing. Our own boat is becoming as good a friend as any to our family. When I look back on the thousands of pictures these past eight years have spawned my eyes tear.

Vern Wright

Hajime

97 Catalina 250 TR/ WK
Hull #301
Attleboro, MA

dasreboot
Admiral

Members Avatar

803 Posts

Response Posted - 07/27/2016 : 12:45:55

quote:
Originally posted by oldengineer1949

Well, it's too damn hot! Doctor won't let me stay out in the heat, and we've got a scorcher of a weekend coming up.

I was out over the weekend in leesylvania sailing catalina 22s. Sail on up this weekend. I should be sailing at leesylvania from 11 to 4:30. I'll look for your boat.

Todd Lewis
Eowyn 87 TR/WK C25 #5656
ARWEN 84 TR/SK C25 #4031
www.mainsailsailingschool.com

oldengineer1949
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
75 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2016 : 07:42:54

Todd,

thanks for the invite. So tempting ... weather forecast on Sailflow for Saturday looks sketchy (periods of rain, maybe thunderboomers), but at least the temperature is below 90 and the winds look good. Admiral has to work Saturday and doesn't like me single-handing (no other crew available). I'll have to work on that, may have to meet you from land instead. You are sailing out of the Woodbridge Sailing School, right?

Regards,

Al and Bernadette, "Pualani Nui", '82 C25 SR/SK, homeport MCB Quantico

dasreboot
Admiral

Members Avatar

803 Posts

Response Posted - 07/28/2016 : 08:05:02

quote:
Originally posted by oldengineer1949

Todd,

thanks for the invite. So tempting ... weather forecast on Sailflow for Saturday looks sketchy (periods of rain, maybe thunderboomers), but at least the temperature is below 90 and the winds look good. Admiral has to work Saturday and doesn't like me single-handing (no other crew available). I'll have to work on that, may have to meet you from land instead. You are sailing out of the Woodbridge Sailing School, right?

Regards,

yes for leesylvania and woodbridge sailing school. Ill be out sunday.

Todd Lewis
Eowyn 87 TR/WK C25 #5656
ARWEN 84 TR/SK C25 #4031
www.mainsailsailingschool.com

zeil
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Canada
1297 Posts

Response Posted - 07/29/2016 : 10:46:55

Alan... you have talent... keep it coming

Henk & Johanna
"Floating", a few off your "barnacles".
"Someday Lady" '95 C250WB #151 ('03 - 2016)
"Sea ya" 30ft Bayliner (04-2018 - 09-2018)
"Mariah" '96 C250WB #191 (05-2019 - 15-05-2023)
"Lady J" '00 C250WK #499 (05-2021 - 09-2022)

bigelowp
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
1736 Posts

Response Posted - 07/30/2016 : 15:32:46

Al

A GREAT post! We (I) am close to their. My goal is to not let the nay-sayers dictate, but instead to do as I please as long as I can. Yes. some parts may need some level of intervention, but keep on sailing (or whatever) keeps you young!!

Peter Bigelow
C-25 TR/FK #2092 Limerick
Rowayton, Ct
Port Captain: Rowayton/Norwalk/Darien CT

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