Thought of the Day - June 3 - Sailing

Last evening I was out sailing. The dingy racing season kicked off. While we did not place particularly well it was fantastic to get back out on the water.

When the pandemic started in earnest the Jericho Sailing Centre closed down and so did our Viking Sailing Club. Planned events, such as our May cruise to the San Juan Islands, were scrapped. Moreover, a number of Vancouver-based annual keelboat races, social events and training sessions were also cancelled. My thought at that time was that 2020 could be a write-off for sailing.

But now things in BC are reopening we are seeing new members joining our club at a rapid rate. Why, because sailing could be an ideal recreation this summer. Sailing is a low-exposure, low-contact sport. It takes place in the freshest air Vancouver can offer. And although you get to "go places", it is our own backyard.

While we need to respect that certain cruising destinations do not welcome an influx of boaters, and appropriate distancing protocols need to be followed, it looks like sailing in 2020 could be just the ticket after all.

Cheers

Cliff