'TWAS THE FROSTBITING SEASON

Merrily

Administrator
‘TWAS THE FROSTBITING SEASON
by Janet E Rupert

‘Twas the frostbiting season, when all through the club
The dinghies lay idle, aye, there’s the rub--
For the docks on river’s edge like cordwood were stacked
And a place to launch from I sorely lacked.
The very quick dropoff of 60 feet
Made gliding from shore too scary a feat.
To console myself I unlocked the gate
To check on my boat in the long winter wait.
A freezing wind howled through the trees,
And snow drifted gaily on the 15 knot breeze.
Yet I wanted to sail, seeing the west wind’s merit;
Blasting along on a reach thrills my adventurous spirit.
My boat was fine and frustrated I sat
On the club’s porch seeing cat’s paws and whitecaps.
Perhaps I dozed, ‘cause soon I could hear
The snapping of sails on the wind brought to bear.
I peered through the flurry, I peered through the gloom,
And to my surprise came eight shiny booms
Of all kinds of dinghies surfing the waves,
At the helm in red dry suits worked sailors brave.
There was a Thistle, a Lido, a Comet, a Scow
A Lightning, a Europe, an Interlake, and a Laser’s bow
Cutting through waves, powering through slop,
What a jolly sight as they mastered the chop!
They towed something large as they skirted the shore,
A barge filled with presents, and onward they bore
To the seawall, to the seawall-- I was afraid they would crash
But seamanlike and tidy they landed with dash.
I ran to help tie them but ignore me they did
As they secured their own boats while munching on squid.
As quick as can be they unloaded the barge,
Of packages round, some tiny, some large.
The gifts they left on the race committee boat
That would not until springtime once again float.
There were Cunningham lines, and mainsheets blue
Sails, cleats, and dollies, and carbon masts too.
Gel coat and paint, hoist motors, and boots,
Wet suits and dry, and horns to toot.
Seeing my yearning, my sadness, my mope
They drew from a dry bag, handing me hope,
A ticket to sail smartly, on warm green seas,
A ticket to skim clear waters to the end of the Keys!
And as quick as they came they were gone in a snap
Crying out “Peace on Earth to All, all over the map.”
 
Tom said:
nice poem you should send it to the ILCA
...or better first to a song(melody)writer and then to the ILCAfor the next "Laser World". Is one of the Laserites also a pro-songwriter (Phil C., Keith R., Eminem...etc... maybe they secretly sail Laser ;))? Great poem Merrily :D
 
- lyrical, lovely...

I never thought of my boat in terms of the Holidays before...

you nailed it!

Thanks,

Dennis,

Tomales Bay,
CA
 
mikescott said:
Excellent! As I look out my office window into the Seattle fog-which of course means zero wind!


i just been upto our club in yeadon, leeds, and righted a couple of capsized dinghys from the dinghy park, in the howling 35-40 knot breeze
 
144679 said:
howling 35-40 knot breeze

It's -10 degrees C at 9:45 a.m. and I've been wearing snowshoes to walk the dog. The sun is shining through ice-tipped trees and it's really beautiful. There's very little wind, and that's OK!
 
144679 said:
we dont have snow, :(
we get wind and rain, here in England

Snow can be fun, especially earlier in the season, but you get snow fatigue. Right now, my mother's county is under a "Level 3" snow emergency. Only cops and emergency vehicles are allowed to drive. Here's hoping that they get their snow cleared, 'cause my mom will kill me if I don't show up for Christmas. Things look hopeful because it has stopped snowing.

Thanks y'all, for your kind comments on my poem. I woke up with the first line in my head the other day and knew I had to write it, because it wouldn't let me go. It was tremendous fun getting it on paper.

Merrily
 
Awww....The greatness.....I think we will have to make it a tradition to bump this post to the top every year.
 
Well, like sailor 327 said...BUT!....I live in Miami Beach now...however I grew up in Winnipeg up in Canada...never sailed in the winter Lakes all solid with ice ( did try ice boating once...too damn fast for me...I was FREAKED!!)..I can appreciate the need to go sailing, tho.....
 
Brrrrrr.
Today we had 15 to 25 mph from the south until it died right around 4 pm. We then blasted back to shore n a fridgid cold breeze from the north. The temperature has been dropping steadily all evening and it is now under 18.....
.....
.....
.....

That would be 18


on that C scale not the F scale.

I may have to put on long sleeves if ths keeps up.
 
Hi Gov,
Glad to see you were out training too! Nothing like Texas frostbiting in 84F weather.
Regards,
Fishingmickey
150087/181157
 
fishingmickey said:
Nothing like Texas frostbiting in 84F weather.

I'd think you guys were weather wimps, but you somehow survive TEXAS SUMMERS, so I know it ain't so. Actually the weather here is gorgeous today. 70 and blustery. If only I had friends with drysuits, I'd be out there sailing.

Merrily
 

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