Tag: writing

It’s been a lovely cruise

On By David BranbyIn SplendidoLeave a comment

Well, the big news is that, as of yesterday, our beloved Splendido has a wonderful new owner, and we could not have let her go to a less worthy or deserving person: an outstanding individual from northern California who shares the same passion and sense of wonder at sailing Lake Tahoe as Debbie and I have had all these years. I must say, it has been heartwarming to visit with sailors from far and wide who inquired about Splendido, whether by contacting me through this blog, by phone, text or email, and I am deeply appreciative of everyone who reached out. Debbie and I spent some long afternoons in the boatyard tidying up Splendido and putting on her winter coat so she showed well and was dressed to impress. We did it as much for ourselves as for interested buyers. It’s our way of expressing our gratitude for all of the joy and good times Splendido has brought us over the years.

I have been reflecting lately on my sailing journey and how I went from a shortboard windsurfer at nearby Washoe Lake to a monohull sailor plying the crystal-clear waters of Lake Tahoe for the past 15 years. It all started with an invitation to sail aboard Grand Cru out of Tahoe City with Fred McElroy back in the mid-2000s—an opportunity that I am grateful for to this very day. That first sail was the gateway drug, and shortly afterwards, I enrolled in the American Sailing Association basic keelboat class out of Tahoe Keys, under the tutelage of Captain Dennis Harms, who really drilled into each student the importance of being safe on the water and being able to quickly execute man-overboard maneuvers under sail. I went on to get my bareboat cruising certifications at San Juan Sailing out of Bellingham, Washington—just 17 miles across the Salish Sea from where I went to high school, in Anacortes. The year was 2008, and I was fortunate to live for a week aboard a 38-ft. Jeanneau with three other sailors and an excellent instructor named Mary Ross from gorgeous Lummi Island, just west of Bellingham.

Over the course of our time aboard the Jeanneau, Mary explained not only sailing and docking the boat; she walked us through all of the systems aboard, which later became vital to my understanding of Splendido and our comfort on the water. Mary also instilled in us the importance of keeping things shipshape and Bristol fashion—and how to be conscientious and considerate to fellow skippers when you have the rare and valuable opportunty to sail with them—like showing up with a nice bottle of wine or beers or yummy snacks—and definitely lending a hand when and where you can. As I’ve said many times before, sailing is a ton of work, and you always want to pitch in if you’d like to be invited back in the future.

Before we ride off into the sunset, though, I want to thank everyone who has read and commented on this blog since its inception in 2010. It’s been a privilege to record my thoughts, observations, trials, tribulations and occasional triumphs for the past decade and a half. I also want to thank Splendido for her faithful service, and for all the joy she’s brought to Debbie and me and to all who’ve sailed aboard her over the years. I have been thinking lately that you never really own a good old sailboat; you are merely a caretaker until it’s time to hand her off to the next generation of joyful sailors. I think that’s what we’ve been able to achieve, and my heart is full to overflowing with gratitude for every moment and every memory.

Thank you again, and fair winds and following seas, Splendido! —DB

It’s Been A Lovely Cruise
Written by Jonathan Baham and performed by Jimmy Buffet on his 1977 album Changes In Latitudes, Changes In Attitudes.

Drink it up, this one’s for you
It’s been a lovely cruise
I’m sorry it’s ending, oh it’s sad, but it’s true
Honey, it’s been a lovely cruise

These moments we’re left with, may you always remember
These moments are shared by few
There’s wind in our hair and there’s water in our shoes
Honey, it’s been a lovely cruise

These moments we’re left with, may you always remember
These moments are shared by few
And those harbor lights, Lord, they’re coming into view
We’ll bid our farewells much too soon

So drink it up, this one’s for you
Honey, it’s been a lovely cruise
Yeah baby, it’s been a lovely cruise
Oh darlin’, it’s been a lovely cruise

Splendido, our beloved Catalina 270 LE, is for sale — and ready for new adventures

On By David BranbyIn Keeping Up Appearances, Mechanical Stuff, SplendidoLeave a comment

A lovely woman and blog-reader from the Chesaspeake Bay area reached out to us a few weeks back with an interest in buying our much-adored Splendido. Her story really struck a chord with me: Now in her 70s, she had grown up sailing on Cal 25s and, reminscing on those happy times, had a vision of buying Splendido for herself and her college-age son, who is absolutely wild about sailing on those legendary waters. She had recently bought a second home on the water’s edge, and we had several long and delightful phone calls about the pros and cons of buying this boat for what she and her son were seeking. She had fallen in love with the appearance, upgrades, and care and attention that Debbie and I had put into Splendido over the years. In the end, it turned out that hauling this 27′ sailboat and her 38′ double-axle trailer 2,700 miles across the country would add $7-10K to the cost, and — not suprisingly — that was the deal-breaker. Though disappointed at the missed opportunity to pass along our Splendido to someone who truly appreciated her, Debbie and I loved that she saw in our boat what we see — a refitted, lovely, sea-kindly “good old boat,” which is exactly what we set out to achieve when we bought her.

Splendido - New Interior

I’d like to give credit where credit is due, however: When we bought the boat in 2010, the first thing I had done was an eight-hour-long, comprehensive survey by Vince DiLeo, AMS® of Admiralty Marine Services. Vince provided us with a detailed report of everything that needed to be done to restore Splendido to first-class working order, mechanically, structurally and equipment-wise. We immediately prioritized the list and got after it, and — as I’ve said before — while you can’t make a good old boat “brand new” again, you can make her the best “good old boat” she can be, which I think we’ve achieved.

That said, we’re selling Splendido in the condition you see here (and, though I flatter myself, I doubt one could find a better-documented (the good, the bad, and the hard work involved) sailboat ownership journey anywhere than the 15-year-old blog you’re reading now!), in a package that includes her two-axle trailer, Walker Bay dinghy, Shipshape winter cover and frame, plus four tidy storage bins full of the sailing necessities you rarely think about that makes buying a “pre-loved” boat a bonus over buying new.

Before I sail off into the sunset, I want to give a massive shout-out to my sailor pal, shipwright and mechanical wiz Ancil Sigman of Pleasant Valley, Nevada, who found ways to restore and improve Splendido that I hadn’t even dreamt of. She wouldn’t be half the boat she is with Ancil’s tireless tinkering, expertise, and care. Thanks, Ancil!

Thanks, too, to you, gentle reader, for sharing this news with your personal and professional networks. I’m giving personalized tours beginning this afternoon to interested sailors, though I have to laugh — it’s a different experience showing a boat that’s on the hard, on her trailer, winterized and all packed up for our seven-month “sleep” here in the foothills of the High Sierra, versus having someone climb aboard at Obexer’s or Tahoe City Marina, cast off and head out across Big Blue. I’m getting a little misty-eyed just writing this, so I’ll sign off by saying fair winds, smooth sailing, and here’s my favorite sailing poem to meditate on. Until next time… DB

Sea-Fever

BY JOHN MASEFIELD

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by;

And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over.