I just got home from the boat yard. It’s early November and one of those sixty to seventy-degree days that make you wish you had not pulled the boat just yet. These sentiments are not shared by the team at the yard, of course. Pulling boats while it is sleeting is not much fun, and you should not “be that guy.” But I must say, we are lucky enough to have a boat that really looks sweet out of the water. Not all boats do. Some look much better above the waterline than they do below. Mine has beautiful lines that blend perfectly into her underbody. It makes doing decommissioning chores much more satisfying.
This year, I am patting myself on the back because we did a pretty good job of cleaning and decluttering before we needed a ladder. So much so that I am even inspired to make some improvements before it’s really “bedtime” and she gets covered. But while watching a Bills game on television, I just noticed that it’s snowing in Buffalo so time is running out. It also means getting into gift giving mode has arrived!
Working on the WindCheck Holiday Gift Guide this year was different. Typically, we reach out to advertisers, offer them a spot and see what they have to offer. This year, a preponderance of experiences as opposed to products rose to the fore, which is fun. Memberships, subscriptions (WindCheck of course!) and cause-related contribution gifts are in this year. But never fear, there are some old standbys as well as some new, really useful pieces of kit in the guide as well.
Save The Sound and Connecticut River Museum gift memberships lead the way for “yearlong” gifts to things near and dear to a waterman or woman’s heart. A WindCheck subscription falls into that category as well. Then we have the gift of sailing offered in both learn and aspirational modes! Narragansett Sailing School has become renowned. Whether it’s a three-day intensive course or one of their longer ones, we highly recommend taking a look and gifting one of their courses. Same goes for longtime advertiser Blue Water Sailing, which specializes in offshore teaching. And of course, who doesn’t think that sailing a 12 Metre yacht with America’s Cup Charters wouldn’t be a blast.
In the personal and home goods category, we have old friends Soundview Millworks and Landfall Navigation. They are augmented by newcomer Zerofit with a range of baselayer products that we reviewed in this issue. And then there are the boat parts…the Ewincher electric winch handle, the TEMO electric outboard motor, and then custom race parts from JCD. Any of these will make your skipper or crew’s time on the water way more fun. So don’t be a scrooge! Whether it’s experiences or tools to make those experiences more enjoyable, we know you will enjoy the giving itself.
Happy Holidays from the WindCheck crew, and see you on the water in the New Year.
Publisher
Benjamin V. Cesare
ben@windcheckmagazine.com
