Here in Michigan, our Cals spend about half the year out of the water. My spring launch this year was delayed by a trip to Nova Scotia and P.E.I., but yesterday my lovely Cal 20 #1220 hit the water for her 58th season and the 26th under my command. There were the usual anxieties about weather and the outboard--it's cranky in the Cal 20's well because it tends to choke on its own fumes--but the stiff breeze kept it well ventilated and all went well, even if the temps were around 90.
The young helper at the marina doing the launching said, "Oh, you're the guy who doesn't use an engine and you're out there in all kinds of weather." Last year somebody ID'd me as "The guy who sails onto his mooring." It's mostly because that seems to be one of the arts of the sailor, and also because using an outboard is a PITA.
By the time I had reached the mooring it was hot and I had been in the sun long enough so all I did was hang the boom and row ashore. Then in the evening I went back, bent on the mainsail, tuned the rigging a bit, and went sailing. It was a short sail because the wind did its usual evening dive toward zero knots and because I had forgotten to eat. I had enough wind to reach the mooring and the first sail of the season went well.
Chris Campbell
Cal 20 #1220, Martha C
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