Summer has started

…. but I can’t say the same thing about the engine. The boat survived the winter in good shape. There was little water in the bilge so the tarps did their job. I found all of the equipment except for the tiller extension. The only problem is the finicky motor. I was able to pick it up at the shop in time for the start of regular racing but it would not start. The shop assured me that it was working so it might be just me. My impatience leads to flooding the engine; or my repair bills are just a manifestation of wishful thinking. I am caught in cognitive dissonance were I can not accept that the is past being repairable.

We hailed Zoomer Too for a greatly appreciated tow. BTW it was now raining. We followed the RC Boat halfway to Gibraltor: “What are they doing?” before the PRO announced NA! On the way back I was a bit concerned about the docking on a lee shore.  “Skipper, what’s the plan?” “Not sure yet.” When we got into the basin and released the tow line we discovered there was actually not a lot of wind. We rocked the boat to get to the white crane. Perfect docking, how could there be any doubt.

The non working and costly repaired motor is a continuing annoyance. The fact is that we survived without using the engine. It is all a part of boat ownership.
It sort of amounted to a dress rehearsal for the race series. We went through the motions if not actually having a race. A nautical baptism (literally with the drenching rain) for a new sailing summer.