Good Morning, Everyone!
If we were having coffee together, I would vent about the boats. You should first know that I had grown up on boats. I had a boat before I had a car. Matt quickly caught the boat ownership bug shortly after meeting me and my family’s obsession. His parents never forgave me.
Currently, Matt and I have five boats; two fun Sunfish sailboats, a Hobie Tantum Mirage peddle/paddle/sailboat, a Herreshoff America Catboat, and a Twin Vee power boat. Each boat has a purpose and their own story, but for today, I am lumping them into one quick tale.
Last Sunday was the Sayville Yacht Club Charity Race. Sailboats of all sizes sail an 8.5-mile course on the Great South Bay. It is a friendly race. Since each boat is timed, there is no vying for an advantageous start. Our Herreshoff, the Bella Vela, was the slowest so we were scheduled to go first. We came about when suddenly CRACK! The tiller (a large thick stick that steers the rudder) broke off. After 38 years of loyal service, the wooden tiller was well past its lifespan. Luckily we were not far from our canal. We dropped the sail and started the little motor. Matt had to twist around and steer the rudder backward as we made our way into the canal and docked the Bella.
During the week, we uncovered the Twin Vee. It had been under tarps in our yard for two years. Due to health issues, managing more than the Bella was not possible. This year we decided to sell it. What a mess! It took me several days to get it sparkling again. The two outboard engines started right up, but Matt and my dad worked on repairing the trailer’s tires, bilge pumps, and electrical systems.
A friend brought us a spare tiller he had laying around. Matt spent a day fitting shimmies in for a perfect fit. His sister, Carla, came out to sail with us. The sails were almost up when CRACK! The tiller broke. This time it wasn’t a complete break, so we were able to hobble in without twisting backward to steer the rudder. We ordered a new tiller. It will arrive sometime next week.
Yesterday, we decided to spend the day at the bay beach at the Sayville Yacht Club. One Sunfish and the Hobie sit there on their hand trailers. I pulled them to the shore and rigged them. Matt and Carla arrived with fishing poles and bait. They peddled out to the cove in the Hobie casting for anything. I happily sailed around them on my Sunfish. Within an hour I noticed the Hobie’s back-end laying very low. Matt shouted at me. Did I had screwed in the rear plug? I didn’t! They quickly peddled back to the beach. The hull was full of water. Did I mention boat are a lot of work.
If we were having coffee together, I’d admit that I am over my word count and will hurry this up.
I had gone to a meet and greet last week with the Long Island Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. I had belonged to SCBWI a long time ago, so it’s nice to be back among passionate children’s lit people.
Since I’m sipping another cup (are you?), I will add that the tomatoes are fabulous. Tomatoes are featured in every meal. Tomato and onion salad, sausage patty sandwiched between tomato slices, and tomato pie are the favorites.
Once again, thank you, Eclectic Alli for managing Weekend Coffee Share.
Have a good week, Everyone. Make it great.
Antoinette Truglio Martin is the author of Hug Everyone You Know: A Year of Community, Courage, and Cancer. The memoir is a wimpy patient’s journey through her first year of breast cancer treatment.
Stories Served 
Hi, Antoinette – If we were having coffee together, I would agree that boats certainly are a lot of work…and are full of surprises! I would also savor over the thought of Tomato Pie. I remember you writing about that during the A – Z Challenge. I am off to check out that post now!
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