"One thing leading to another." as the saying goes. It's time for some "Slow-Boating" literally!

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"Let's do Launch !"

Just when I began to think that it would never happen, the venerable Kingfisher sails again. I did get a lot of help with the launch; courtesy of my friend and fellow viking, Jon Metz

SoOH! after a 30 year hiatus from the wonderfully exciting world of sailing, I am back in the sail bag again. It could be just an old man living out a little boy's dream, but the day was chock full o' nutty adventures. There was also a lot of nostalgia too. One does have plenty of time to let the pleasant memories flood back, while sailing alone. I missed the old crew.



By the way, and speaking of crew: Thank you again Chris and BA and The Crew. The Moss Sail Bag works EXCELLENT!! You can see your invention attached to the down-haul in this photo.

Kingfisher fans can read about the Moss Kingfisher III here

I also appreciate Chris' encouragement that lead to my rehabbing and restoring this Kingfisher. It was well worth the worry, work, wait and wampum.

The Kingfisher lll is a very stable boat, an important characteristic for we senior citizens sailors who are a little wobbley on our pegs, while even traversing solid ground.



Well, after a couple of weeks of dragging the 250 pound Kingfisher in and out of the water over the soft sand beach, I am chagrin to say, it has proved to be too much of a physical task for this 65 year old teenager. I was motivated and inspired once again to apply the ancient wheel concept. I fashioned a beach dolly, of sorts, from a re-purposed Home Depot hand truck. The results, however, provided only a marginal improvement.....



..........BUT

Once one realizes that boats are happier in water,

One's back becomes happier too!

By the by: My Chiropractor thought that it was an excellent idea, for me to take up sailing again. His daughter was able to start Ocean County College this year.

Thanks to the generosity and hospitality of a local lagoon front homeowner, (a seasoned sailor, in her own right and owner of a 40' twin masted gaff-rigged sharpie ketch), I was able to keep Harriet tied up at a bulkheaded dock space for the remainder of the season.