A Sunday sailing expedition - a reminder of Mexico's water

WATKINS GLEN, New York, USA - We were having a late lunch at the Village Marina and Bar (owned by amigos Karen and Michael Schamel) when we spied Eric and Tina Hazlitt and their cousin Doug headed out the dock to climb aboard Doug's 40-foot C&C sailboat for a trip from the marina to the mooring in front of his house.

Before you can say Magic Hat beer, the Admiral went out and chatted with the crew, coming back with an invite for us to travel up the lake - a three-hour tour, more or less.

Adm. Fox demurred from taking the trip, opting instead to get the car back to Valois.

But our amiga Laura - our resident Spanish teacher here and in Arroyo Seco - and I hopped on board for a great ride up the lake, all downwind.

Even though the water was cold, the wind was not and it was sooooo reminiscent of downwind runs along the Mexico coast in our former sailing vessel, Sabbatical.

It was the first sail of the season for Doug - and the boat - and everything worked just fine.

What's up with that?


Getting the furler working


Eric at the helm


Captain at the wheel


Captain and Laura


Coming in to the Hazlitt dock