A few days ago I spent the night on my boat, waking at six in the morning to the smell of baking bread. \u00a0There are very few aromas in the world that smell better! \u00a0All I could do was get up, make a hot cup of tea, smell the baking bread, and enjoy the sunrise.<\/p>\n
Speaking of tea. \u00a0A little over a\u00a0year ago I spent some time in Victoria, British Columbia. \u00a0I came away with an appreciation for\u00a0fresh tea. \u00a0Not the stale tea bags you see in the grocery store. \u00a0I’m talking fresh, loose leaf teas found in specialty tea shops. \u00a0Since then, I have acquired some favorites. \u00a0Step on my boat and one of the things you are bound to notice is the selection of teas for various occasions. \u00a0My favorite for everyday use is\u00a0Keemun, a smooth, rich black tea from China. \u00a0For something a bit different try Lapsang Souchong, a very smokey black tea reminiscent of a camp fire in a pine forest. \u00a0How about\u00a0a nice Chocolate Mint tea. \u00a0Add a bit of honey and enjoy. \u00a0Then, there are the green teas with names like Dragon Well and Jasmine Pearls, an interesting tea that is dried with layers of jasmine petals. \u00a0Add some hot water and the aroma of jasmine fills the room. \u00a0Whichever is your favorite, enjoy it with a good story.<\/p>\n
While on the subject of good stories, a friend recently mentioned he has gotten into reading the novels and short stories of Jack London. \u00a0At the time, I wasn’t aware that Jack London\u00a0was quite a sailor, and wrote a number of stories about sailing on San Francisco Bay. \u00a0I have to admit that I am now hooked. \u00a0A great story\u00a0to start with is “Small-Boat Sailing”. \u00a0As an added benefit, all of Jack London’s works are available online for free. \u00a0I personally added them to my Kindle library and am working my way through them on lazy days.<\/p>\n
So, what does all this have to do with sailing and skipper’s tips. \u00a0The only time you can smell bread baking in Marina Bay is when the wind is out of the North or North West. \u00a0There is a bakery about a mile away, and if the wind is just right the smell of warm bread comes wafting through the marina. \u00a0Wind from the North is the first sign winter is approaching! \u00a0I personally take that first North wind as the sign to start paying a bit more attention to those Small Craft Advisories San Francisco is famous for. \u00a0During the summer, a Small Craft Advisory is the sign of a great day of sailing. \u00a0During the winter, a Small Craft Advisory is accompanied by shifting, gusting winds, and often storms. \u00a0Always treat a Small Craft Advisory in the winter with respect.<\/strong>\u00a0 When you see one, maybe you should put some breakfast rolls in the oven, grab a hot cup of tea and a good Jack London story and enjoy the day at home instead of on the water.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A few days ago I spent the night on my boat, waking at six in the morning to the smell of baking bread. \u00a0There are very few aromas in the world that smell better! \u00a0All I could do was get … Continue reading