Sailing the dinghy! (Posted 10/31/09)

We bought a sailing rig for our dinghy, "Little One", and installed it when we returned to Boot Key Harbor. Now we can go sailing around the
harbor "just for fun". :-)

We have taken a couple of sunset sails around the harbor after dinner and I have been practicing sailing the dinghy as there is going to be a dinghy sailing race tomorrow.

Here is a photo that Linda took of me sailing Little One when we had just installed the new sailing rig and I was trying it out for the
first time:

It is actually much harder to sail a little dinghy than it is to sail the "big boat". I felt like I was learning to sail all over again after having been sailing for over 30 years!!! :-)

We are settling back into the harbor routine and seeing old friends and neighbors who stayed here while we were away cruising for seven months. Not much has changed except for some nice improvements in the marina facilities with the cruiser's lounge having been redecorated and new TV rooms with flat screen TVs and "theater chairs" installed, the new shower/restroom/laundry building is open, and a really nice new floating dinghy dock is being installed and should be ready for use soon. We are enjoying being "home" and seeing our friends again!

The harbor is still pretty quiet, mostly the yearround resident boats, maybe only 1/3rd or less of the moorings in use, with a slow trickle of new boats arriving.  I suspect we will be seeing the big influx of winter visitors and residents in a few more weeks and by January the harbor will be bustling with over 300 boats!!