Summer's End
Commodore B. J. Turk, 13 August 2005

Well, the summer is coming to a close, and I can only hope that all of you heeded the good advice you received, wore your PFDs like you should, and survived another season without spending too much time being rescued by our friends in the ships and helicopters with the diagonal orange stripes.

Speaking of which...

At this time, I would like to publicly thank those brave men and women who go where we shouldn't, to get us out of jams we never should have got into. For a long, long time, the United States Coast Guard has patrolled our waters to keep us safe from drug runners, pirates, the seas, and ourselves. They often risk their lives to save ours, and we should never underestimate the price they pay to keep all of us safe, whether at sea or on inland waters. The next time you see a USCG ship, give 'em a wave and show how much you appreciate them.



Now that the season is coming to a close for many of you, don't forget the little things that will make next season a better and safer one. Make sure that you stow everything clean and dry so it won't be rotten or mildewed next year. Check the conditions of your lines and bumpers if your boat will remain dockside. If you're dry-docking or trailering your vessel, make sure that it is secured properly and the hull interior is as dry as you can make it. Yes, all of this should be obvious, but it is too easy to forget, overlook, or just ignore.

Finally, think about what you did this summer, and what you could have done better. Being a sailor of misfortune now doesn't mean that you have to remain one. Learn from your mistakes, and commit yourself to avoiding those same mistakes in the future. Think about what cutting corners on costs or navigation cost you in the long run, and try to place value where you failed to do so before. The objective is to ensure that you can enjoy boating safely, even if not very well, for the rest of your life. If it isn't worth the time and effort, then perhaps you should wonder if your life is worth that time and effort. If not, then you really should see a therapist.



Nothing new to tell on the development of the site, but you'd probably guessed that.



Other Commodore's Log entries:

      Thankful (13 November 2005)
      Shorter Days, Longer Nights (13 October 2005)
      Summer Sailing (13 July 2005)
      3rd Friday the 13th Status Report (13 May 2005)
      Ode to Spring (13 April 2005)
      The Misfortune Continues... (13 March 2005)

      Commodore's Log Archive (old stuff)


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