December 2, 2024-Work and Play in The Final Days of Summer,

wingssail images-renee oake First Beer Can Race

Summer in Mexico is a time of boat work; winter is our sailing season. 

But as the end of summer rolls around and racing dates are looming if the boat work is not finished I begin to scramble and this year was no exception. 

wingssail images-fredrick roswold

Hit the deck running

 I did have a long list including a new bow pulpit (after a disastrous port starboard collision when we were on starboard and a boat to leeward decided to cross us on port. He didn't make it and I couldn't' avoid him, big OUCH) and propellor shaft and flange replacement. There was other work to be done on the topsides where the Imron paint needed attention and new epoxy deck paint with non-skid was also needed. There were new toe rails fore and aft to be crafted and winch revisions to be completed. The hydraulics needed attention and instrument upgrades were in the works. A lot of other projects were checked off including many interior upgrades (some of them major) such as important maintenance including keel backing plate replacements as well as a significant enlargement of the aft cabin berth. 

Actually, the list this year was really long but I almost got through it. 

 Almost. 

My trip to Oregon earlier for a short break was really fun but hadn’t helped me keep on schedule. 

So here I was in in November about to start the 39th racing season with a to-do list which was still a little bit intimidating. 

I needed some help 

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Renee and Rhonda

wingssail images-renee oake

Fred and Rhonda Sew

Fortunately my friend Rhonda came down to Mexico to pitch in. A day later a new friend Renee joined us. We got right to work and the progress with two willing hands was excellent. One of my regulars, Mark, spent a day too and I think the list was finally completed. 

This year getting my crew in shape is also going to be a challenge. Some of my most loyal crew are aging out and replacements are hard to find. Neither Rhonda or Renee will be able to sail much this winter either, if at all. I recruited new people aggressively and fortunately I found some great new talent but bringing them to a high level will take time. We went sailing a couple of times for training.

  wingssail images-fredrick roswold 

Setting sail for the first time, Tressa and Al

But it is not all work. In Mexico we like to play too; there was music to be enjoyed and time at the beach to swim in the ocean and soak up the sun. 

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Sunset at the beach

Finally it all came together and we had our first race. 

We won. 

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Time for my helpers to fly back to the cold North

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Fredrick Roswold, SV Wings