Sailing with old friends

Sailing with old friends is the best because it renews ties from years ago and recalls great times on the water.

Maxine and Benton Lutz drove up from Beaufort SC for dinner with Janet and George Goode. They were visiting from France. Maxine, Janet and I began at The Virginia Gazette in the early 1970s.

The Lutzes went sailing on a sunny autumn afternoon with temperatures near 70 and winds cranking over 10 mph. We reefed the genoa to mitigate Maxine’s bad back. Benton took the helm, which startled him at first because he’s used to a tiller. He’s consolidating three sailboats at home and expects to keep his 21-foot Mobjack, which he built himself.

They admired the refinishing I did on the catbird seats. It required removing the slats, stripping the varnish, sanding the teak to bare wood, and refinishing with seven coats of spar varnish.

Before anyone knew it, we sailed for 28 miles and completed the narrative of the Battle of the Capes and Yorktown Siege. Then it was dinner for all (though George was sick), prepared exquisitely by Bonnie for the second night in a row.

Let’s go sail

Check rates and pick a day for a sailboat charter. See reviews on Trip Advisor from sailors like you.