The Point

In sailing stories, blogs, books, magazine articles, or any other dictum of the Old Salt, The Point is an inevitable chapter of discussion.  Rounding a point in sailing usually involves weather, currents, wind, nasty underwater obstructions,weather,currents, and did I say weather?  New sailors approach these points with a mixture of excitement and some trepidation, checking and re-checking charts and instruments, eyes riveted to the water looking for the errant rock rising up out of the waves. Once round, though, a transition takes place, the moment of apprehension washing away with the water rushing by the hull and in its place is a burgeoning boost of self confidence, determination, pride, and the solid assurance of doing what one was meant to do. 

We're approaching that point, maybe even alongside it.  We've left the endless days of examining every type of boat that exists, through sailing magazines, boat shows and the ever-present yachtworld.com.  We've now settled on just a couple, maybe three, that fit most of the requirements we want the boat to meet.  More importantly, we've set a goal to have the house and the boat both ready to sell by the end of the year.  All sorts of projects are underway as a result, the bathroom grout is being dug out and replaced, the back door is being replaced, the kitchen floor is going to be re-tiled in a month or two, and as Tim has mentioned in his recent posts, Nomad is in a temporary state of disrepair as she gets a new headliner and some new side panels and a freshly overhauled prop and fresh bottom paint and new lifelines...

I'm standing on the bow of our adventure with my eyes peeled for anything that might pop up and put a halt to our journey, ready to steer around it.  I'm ready to round Point Dream.