This is the time of year where I really start jonesing for a chance to sail. It’s been an extremely dry winter here in the Sierras, and I’m already worried about low water and not being able to use the dock at all this summer. Nevertheless, at 51, I am determined to make sure this year is filled with adventure and fun, so I am going on the record here to say this is the year that I do a three or four day circumnavigation of Lake Tahoe, dropping the hook each night in some protected anchorage and checking out the the local color. Debbie has already announced that she doesn’t want to go, mostly because she doesn’t sleep well on the boat, and well, her idea of camping is slow room service at a nice hotel. So, I may go solo, or I may test a friendship by sharing the voyage with a friend. I’m thinking that it has to be July, when the water warms up a bit and the wind is steady and there’s good sailing to be had. In the run-up to launching in the spring, I have a bunch of chores to do. One thing I’m really glad we did last fall was have the trailer rebuilt, as that thing is bulletproof now. I spent a fair amount of time online today, sourcing things I need to repair or replace. That damn teak wood is still on the sawhorses in my garage, awaiting sanding and varnishing. I could go on and on, but like any INFJ, I have a nice long list of things I need to do.

I am optimistic that this is going to be a great year for sailing at Lake Tahoe. Last summer’s sailing season felt a little “short” because of the smoke from the Rim Fire near Yosemite, which made it just nasty outside for a few weeks. I’m also excited about sharing Splendido with some new friends and with some old friends who were gone for a while but now have come back to the area and rekindled the friendship. An afternoon of sailing on Tahoe is a lot like a nice dinner party (and sometimes, they are one and the same!)…a few delightful hours of conversation, relaxation, good food and wine, and the activity of handling the boat and enjoying the view. What’s not to like?

Still, as a conscientious user of this beautiful treasure called Lake Tahoe, one thing I hope to achieve this year is selling my trusty old 1994 Jeep (she turns 20 this year!) and getting something that’s a little lighter on the environment, like a Prius. Because I work at the University of Nevada, Reno, I get to learn from some amazing researchers, including the folks who study human impacts on the entire Tahoe Basin, the air quality, nearshore ecosystem, and, of course, the clarity issues about which much has been writtten. For a glance at some of the cool science they’re doing, check out this Tahoe Summit_Report.

Obviously, I’m not sailing today, so the photos shown here are from a great sailing day last summer with Debbie. (Midwinter is a great time to reminisce.) The final photo is of this cool “picnic boat” that moored near our buoy on Hurricane Bay last summer. We never saw her used much, but it could just be that her owner was out enjoying her when we were at the office during the week. Anyway, she’s a beauty, and I hope to see her out on the water next year.

More when it happens. In the meantime, fair winds and smooth sailing! DB