The unofficial start of the sailing season is the annual boat show. Of course actual boating is still many months away (unless you are on charter or have migrated south for the winter). The off season mindset switches from recalling memories to thinking about the season to come.
I like to use the time in the off season to get together with sailing friends. All events are opportunities to reminisce about past seasons: Awards Night with my current crew; my December lunches with my crew from Harbourside, i.e. Mr. and Mrs. Anthony, and Judith. On the day of the boat show I have lunch with Charles, who crewed with me a few years ago. One of the gifts of sailing is that you find good friends that are made by sharing some great experiences. It is important for me to keep in contact even if only with these annual ‘events’.
I am required to do 20 Volunteer hours at he Club. The Boat Show provides me with an opportunity to fulfil part of this obligation. The Membership Committee provides good support with a pre show seminar for the volunteers. The seminar describes what is planned for the club this season and prepares the volunteers for meeting the public. The seminar gives a good heads up on what to expect from the club.
The boat show shifts are three hours long. My preference is to do the afternoon shift on the first day that the show is open to the public. For the past couple of years my shift mate is Ann. A lot of members stop by the booth. It is great great time to catch up with other club members. Of course we also do some successful selling of the Club to prospective members!
This year the booth was located next to the one for Whitby Harbour Marina, complete with a Whitby Harbour map. It gave me the opportunity to show people exactly were I am now located!
I had little interest in the boat show itself. There was a walk about; but, this year I didn’t bother to look at any boats or do any shopping. New boats for me were never a practical option. What is ‘practical’ is of course ‘the’ something that now needs to be thought about. Let the planning begin?
