Thanks, boat.

Oct 10, 2024

When the brussel sprouts start making the rounds this weekend at the family Thanksgiving, there will be abundant discussion of how blessed we are and all the wonderful people we have to thank for contributing to our lives. As we should.

But perhaps you have taken a moment to thank your boat. Yes, I know this is not as central to our lives as family, kids, dear friends and the opportunities we have as Canadians. But your boat has delivered, once again and deserves a moment of thanks while we are marking the day. Thanksgiving and haul-out coincide, so reviewing and storing the season’s memories is timely.

Memorable Hemingway Marina

If you are fortunate to boat, there usually is a collection of moments to be thankful for that ‘made’ the summer. I tend to note the early morning and evening moments, but yours are yours. For example, a sublime moment came when I was on a power cat crossing from Key West to Havana. We departed the shoal light off Key West, the gorgeous evening turned into night and the winds picked up stirring across the current for an increasingly lumpy ride. Then the GPS evaporated for unknown reason and we were driving on compass alone – somewhat nerve racking. Around 4 am, the lights of Havana solidified and as dawn broke, we could see ahead to Hemingway Marina on the Cuban shore. That was a moment. I thanked the boat for getting us across and delivering us to that beautiful spot.

That was a dramatic event but there are times all summer that stay with me.  Late in the season when Wednesday racing brings an easterly, we finish downwind with colourful spinnakers gliding into the sunset. Tough to beat and thanks-worthy. For you, maybe it’s driving the kids’ wakeboard, or anchoring off a distant island and watching herons.

We are privileged to go boating and this is a good opportunity to appreciate that.

John Morris, Online Editor

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