In the aviation world "Up Ship" is a specific command given by airship Captains. It tells the ground crew to toss the nearly neutrally buoyant ship skyward to start its journey. I never piloted an airship and aviation is not my world anymore, but I couldn't help but mumble "Up Ship" under my breath as the straps went tight and Kintala cleared the waters of lake Carlyle.
Our journey is underway.
The day started normally enough. Breakfast, coffee, chat with a few friends, prep the boat to get under way. The boom tent was stowed, halyards moved, cobwebs swept away; we ran the spring line to get us off the dock cleanly and headed to the pump out. There was no way to tell that this day's sail was any different from any of the hundreds of others we have done in the 6+ years of being at Carlyle.
We motored out of Boulder a little slower than normal. This would be the last time Kintala's bow would
push these waters aside. It was a strange feeling. Out on the lake we flew just the head sail in the 10 knots worth of wind. It wasn't enough and we weren't going very fast. Then again we were in no particular hurry and the boat was moving easy. As Boulder fell astern smiles broke out in the cockpit, replacing what was a bit of a somber mood. The conversation shifted as well and somehow, in just those few minutes, all of our focus shifted from where we have been to where we are going.
Saturday, 9/15/2007 was day one of our first sailing class, and the first time we set foot on the docks at Tradewinds marina. To suggest we had no clue as to what we were were doing would have been the understatement of the year. This day Kintala slipped up to the fuel dock with little fanfare. Deb stepped onto the dock, secured the mid ship spring line, cleated off the bow and stern without a thought and that was that. We stripped both head and mail sails, flaked and stowed them below, and dropped the forestay so we would fit in the lift. We motored into the pit without drama, set the straps fore and aft ...
"Up ship."
Our journey is underway.
The day started normally enough. Breakfast, coffee, chat with a few friends, prep the boat to get under way. The boom tent was stowed, halyards moved, cobwebs swept away; we ran the spring line to get us off the dock cleanly and headed to the pump out. There was no way to tell that this day's sail was any different from any of the hundreds of others we have done in the 6+ years of being at Carlyle.
We motored out of Boulder a little slower than normal. This would be the last time Kintala's bow would push these waters aside. It was a strange feeling. Out on the lake we flew just the head sail in the 10 knots worth of wind. It wasn't enough and we weren't going very fast. Then again we were in no particular hurry and the boat was moving easy. As Boulder fell astern smiles broke out in the cockpit, replacing what was a bit of a somber mood. The conversation shifted as well and somehow, in just those few minutes, all of our focus shifted from where we have been to where we are going.
"Up ship."
3 comments:
It seems that the water level Gods have deemed your trip worthy.
"Blue Skies", "tailwinds", "smooth roads", "fair winds", "following seas" and any other air, road, or sea based wish you can think of for a safe and enjoyable journey!
Thank you all for your good wishes!
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