New Year’s Eve…
There’s something in the air that keeps telling us that 2013 is going to be a busy – and we hope a very productive – year.
Some little frisson of magic that‘s making our fur stand ever so slightly on end.
We’re going to do our darnedest to make it that way anyway!
Best wishes to all and to all a very
Happy New Year!
(transcribed by the Can Opener)
New Year’s Resolutions for the Can Opener
Mmph? Naaaaaaaaah.
(Audible, agitated, but indecipherable commentary from the Can Opener off stage…)
Okay, okay. Here we go:
(…Indecipherable commentary becomes less agitated.)
Well. I suppose that’ll be exhausting enough for one year... Must find my silk cushion now to recover upon.
–Captain Cat
(transcribed by the Can Opener)
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| We passed a lot of milestones in 2012! |
We’re thrilled to get out nearly 50 days on the water. We were thrilled to have had the chance to sail on 9 different types of yachts. Thrilled to see a big stretch of the southeast coast, sail in 5 countries and film cavorting dolphins.
And we are very pleased with the Can Opener’s progress this year: he’s finished all the RYA navigation courses, hit all the physical training goals I set for him, researched reams of cruising and design topics – and wrote it all up and posted it on my blog.
Didn’t really expect him to have time to hit so many targets actually. I put it all down to my outstanding planning and monitoring. But I still give him three big stars.
But most of all in 2012, we were thrilled to meet so many helpful, dedicated and inspirational yachtsmen and women to sail with and to exchange ideas, theories and info with.
Our best move in 2012
Our best move ever was joining the Red Tabby Yacht Club. That started it all.
But our best move in 2012?
That’s got to be joining Cap’n André’s team. Great group of guys, as big on sailing as we are, and that all move with nautical feline grace – yet still know how to share out the smoked salmon at mealtimes fair and square.
We met Cap’n André at the Red Tabby Spring Sailing Forum at beginning of the year. So joining the Red Tabby really has been a great investment that keeps on paying out excellent dividends.
The biggest challenge in 2012 was…
...getting down to Solent every time. We are currently streamlining our assets as we save for the yacht o’ my dreams, so no car for the Can Opener and myself – we take the train.
This means a 3+ hour commute to get down to the water’s edge before each passage.
But this was okay as Cap’n André gave us the keys to his yacht practically from the first moment we met him – what a guy! So we‘d go down early the night before and stay over on the boat.
This worked out well all round as it gave the First Mate and I the chance to prep the boat before everyone else arrived. Then we could all get off the dock pronto and have longer sailing days.
What we hope for next year
As discussed earlier this week with Santa, my biggest hope for 2013 is to: double our time on the water.
This would mean 100 days. One hundred days. One hundred big ol’ days of wonder, joy and learning. But also a heck of a lot to cram into one year.
That would mean every Saturday and Sunday all year. Or 3.5 months at sea. Or about 7 two-week passages.
However you slice it, 100 days is a LOT.
But having a massive goal to aim for is inspirational. It gives you that extra get-up-and-sprint motivation that gets things moving and gets things done.
At Wharton, the Can Opener says, they called this kind of goal a BHAG – big hairy audacious goal.
Well big, hairy and audacious – that’s me. So a 100-day goal is the one for us!
2013 – It’s gonna be great!
Highlights
Total days on the water: 47
Sea miles gained this year: 3600
Next year… we‘d love to double it!
Why count up where we’ve been? You gotta know where you‘ve been to know where you’re going. At least, we figure it can’t hurt. And it feels good too.
Next up: I’ve got the Can Opener working on our Cruising Resolutions for 2013.
When he’s done, he can have the smoked oyster I’ve got waiting for him, riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight here!
The Cruising Kitty’s Lecture List for 2012
Best boats of the year!!
All the boats we sailed on in 2012:
Baltic 35
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| Cap’n André’s boat! |
Hallberg-Rassy 29
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| Cap’n Davie‘s! |
Sigma 38
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| Sigma racing! |
Reflex 38
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| Junior Offshore Group racing! |
J80
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| Red Tabby team racing! |
J122
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| Racing at Cowes Week! – Image Source |
Arcona 37
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| More Junior Offshore Group racing! |
Fountaine Pajot 40
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| The Spain-Greece 2012 delivery |
Eleonora
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| Eleanora, a 90 ft schooner and an exact replica of Westward that was launched in 1910. |
*Though notably he did re-alphabetise my entire Jackie Chan DVD collection without a single complaint.
Un Tigre Beau rises from the waters…
…and is on the hard for the winter for good now…
–Captain Cat
(transcribed by the Can Opener)
So, we’re ready for Christmas!
We have hung our stockings by the chimney mantel. The holly’s been stolen from the local park and tossed around the stairway banisters. No white Christmas snow in sight, which is fine – just as I decreed.
The First Mate‘s in our land galley rustling up endless Christmas cookies. Including some for guests. Mulled wine‘s a-mulling. Presents wrapped. Many seem to be book shaped and one might even be a new sextant. The Can Opener did get quite unsettled when I began pouncing and rattling it…
Yes, Yuletide 2012 is just around the corner.
So… exhausted from putting final touches on the Can Opener’s last minute to-do lists, I’ll just settle down here under the tree, next to this marine pressure cooker-shaped object and dream of magnificent fish chowders to come.
I can’t think of anything better to do on the night-before-the-night-before-the-night-before-the-night-before Christmas.
Can you?
–Captain Cat
(transcribed by the Can Opener)
The Cruising Kitty 
