Makina Sea Log : June 21, 2026
Boating life is not for everyone. On one extreme there are those unfortunates which become physically ill by the activity. Many others, however, enjoy boating. That group might be subdivided into those whose participation can be viewed as a part time activity; falling into a hobbyish category. Others who embrace boating and immerse themselves into the Community of Boating might consider it more of a live style.
From the Summer 2024 until the Fall 2025 one could easily place me in the later category. Boating as a lifestyle.
For me that life style began with my travelling to Scarborough, Ontario to take ownership of my 36' Cabot-36. Through late summer and into October we sailed Makina through Lake Ontario, down the St. Lawrence Seaway locks and the St. Lawrence itself - until finally making the jump from Gaspe, PQ to Summerside, PEI. After a 5 day layover in Port Hawksbury awaiting a good weather window the rest of the passage to Halifax was made.
This adventure coincided with the sale of my home of the last 38 years. A corporate neighbor knocked on my door explaining that they were planning on re-doing the block on which my 2 story building sat to a 17 story development. If there ever was a time to sell it had arrived. Just as we made Quebec city, in the passage, the sale became finalized.
Without a home, while sailing down the Eastern Shore from Canso to Halifax, had me reaching out to the Armdale Yacht Club in Halifax. There was some playing on the heartstrings of their Administrator; when explaining to her how back in the late '60s it was my great pleasure to be a Junior Member. My Father kept his 30' Yawl at the Club. Summers of that period found me as a student in their sailing courses; proudly winning the Most Dunked Skipper's Cup one season. 🙄
My past creds seemed to have done their affect. The Club offered me a Wet Berth for Makina for the winter season.
Wet Berths are berths that have air pumped into the water surrounding them, so that winter ice never becomes an issue and boats need not be hauled from the water for the cold season. They are rare everywhere and in limited supply at AYC.
Due to my Daughter and Son-In-Common-Law having a unit in my building, they also became homeless due to its sale. They joined me on Makina; including Big Boy their cat; for most of the winter.
The next spring had them finally deciding on a house in Halifax and moving ashore. We sailed Makina down to Lunenburg and rented a mooring ball for the season; giving Makina a home base for the rest of the season while exploring the southern shore of Nova Scotia as far south as Shelburne.
By the end of the season Makina had been in the water for over a year. She was finally brought on to the hard in late September at the East River Shipyard where she had extensive work and upgrades done to her over the winter and into early summer.
With the successful debugging of the newly installed radar system, yesterday, goodbyes were finally made to the Shipyard. Makina made the passage to her new mooring ball for the season at the Mahone Bay Civic Marina. Last night was my first night on board Makina in 9 months!
Even the hobbyist sailor will likely remember, with fondness, the gentle rocking of a sleep while at mooring. Those of the lifestyle will understand that last night was, for me, a coming home.
May the wind be at your back!
A listing of my sailing posts
https://hive.blog/blog/@novacadian/categories-of-novacadian-s-sailing-seasons
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