Essex New York | Sailing Errant

With May winding down and weather shifting from soggy to sunny, I finally began readying Errant for another summer on Lake Champlain. Winter cover off, pressure washing and compounding, bottom painting, canvas back on including the brand new genoa,…

There’s so much to do each spring, but I’m fueled with anticipation and enthusiasm during the pre-season commissioning so the chores are actually [almost] 100% enjoyable. Of course, there’s always that one rainy day when planning to bottom paint or an electrical mystery (like connecting to shore power and discover that the onboard battery charger is not working, not working, not working, until, “Oh, the power tower has a tripped breaker! It’s not the boat at all…”)

But the spring checklist is finite, and soon enough it is launch day followed but the much-anticipated shakedown sail south from the Willsboro Bay Marina to our home in Essex.

Spring Shakedown 2018 (Source: Geo Davis)

That first sail of the season always a joy, but this year was perfect. Winds out of the north variable from the high single digits to the mid teens and calm seas. We were wing-and-wing much of the morning, and I even managed to squeeze in a brief snooze at the helm while autopilot was employed on the broad lake. Even my occasionally-nonplussed-about-sailing-bride enjoyed herself. All told, it was the perfect start to a new season.

Sailing Errant "home" to Essex from Willsboro after purchase. (Sept. 7, 2014) — Sailing Errant “home” to Essex from Willsboro after purchase. (Sept. 7, 2014)

What a lovely way to take ownership of a new sailboat. Perfect weather. Perfect following wind. And a good friend (and great sailor) to accompany and coach me.

I have to admit that it still hasn’t fully sunk in that this is now my boat. All day it felt like we were borrowing it. I’ve had this experience before, most notably with Rosslyn, the home where my bride and I reside in Essex, New York.

Mark coached me on navigation, paying especially close attention to depth as we sailed through the Four Brothers Islands. We experimented with the equipment (auto pilot, etc.) and with the operation of the vessel. At one point in the afternoon, shortly after dropping the sails to motor into the Essex Shipyard, Mark suggested that I spin the wheel to discover what a tight turning radius the boat could execute if/when necessary. It was a little startling and truly informative. She can practically pivot in space!

Here’s a gallery of photographs from the day.