The Mighty Bonita
It happens quite often up here in the Hudson Valley, plans are made over a wine infused dinner for the next day. Often the plans go the way of wind blown leaves in November. This Labor Day however they were just perfect. My buddies Dennis and Denise came over for dinner Sunday night. In between the second or third bottle of red Dennis asked about the sailboat given to me on my 50th this August. A million excuses came up, “No trailer hitch, no sailing knowledge and busy”, I murmured “Hey I got a hitch on the truck and some sailing under my belt”, Dennis said. Instantly plans were made to head to the Hudson River next day for the Bonita’s first sail.
At ten as planned the phone rang, D&D were on their way and the Bonita was soon hitched to Dennis’s truck. The sky was pure blue and the Hudson majestic with the peaks of the Catskill Mts in the background. The kind of day that rarely happens when you’ve made plans. Mast was raised and the hounds and spreaders set. I was soon keel stepping, not to be confused with two stepping. With Dennis’s knowledge is was evident that the Cottekill Yacht Club had its first Commodore. It weren’t me, me hardies. Dennis then backed down the ramp at Kingston Point and he and I hopped in. No point in risking the ladies lives on the first run! Minutes later Dennis informed me that I had us smack dab in the shipping lane. “Hells Bells”, I shouted. The swells of the passing boats threatened the Bonita’s very existence. After shouts of mainsail, jib, tiller, all of which sounded like cocktails on Martha’s Vineyard, the Commodore had us free and catching the blow. The rest of the day went remarkably well and smiles were wide as the Pacific. The addition of Mat, Denise’s son added to the pleasure.
That night I went to bed with a copy of The Handbook of Sailing by Bob Bond. I ended at the reefing chapter, certainly far different then the reefing I did at Franklin Pierce College years ago. PS: to the tanker that went up the Hudson Monday, show some respect to the mighty Bonita and its noble crew!
At ten as planned the phone rang, D&D were on their way and the Bonita was soon hitched to Dennis’s truck. The sky was pure blue and the Hudson majestic with the peaks of the Catskill Mts in the background. The kind of day that rarely happens when you’ve made plans. Mast was raised and the hounds and spreaders set. I was soon keel stepping, not to be confused with two stepping. With Dennis’s knowledge is was evident that the Cottekill Yacht Club had its first Commodore. It weren’t me, me hardies. Dennis then backed down the ramp at Kingston Point and he and I hopped in. No point in risking the ladies lives on the first run! Minutes later Dennis informed me that I had us smack dab in the shipping lane. “Hells Bells”, I shouted. The swells of the passing boats threatened the Bonita’s very existence. After shouts of mainsail, jib, tiller, all of which sounded like cocktails on Martha’s Vineyard, the Commodore had us free and catching the blow. The rest of the day went remarkably well and smiles were wide as the Pacific. The addition of Mat, Denise’s son added to the pleasure.
That night I went to bed with a copy of The Handbook of Sailing by Bob Bond. I ended at the reefing chapter, certainly far different then the reefing I did at Franklin Pierce College years ago. PS: to the tanker that went up the Hudson Monday, show some respect to the mighty Bonita and its noble crew!
posted by Kent E St. John at 6:34 PM
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