Every year, the same agitation in all the ports of France, Navarre and beyond. As soon as March brings its first rays of sunshine, the harbor entrances become saturated with surprising shadows in disposable suits: the boaters.
I'd be in too!
I will be part of it. If the weather gods are on my side, you'll find me at the dry dock, draining the damn tank that gave me so much trouble last season that I couldn't really enjoy my season. But it's not a big deal. Lesson learned, I'm going to redo my fuel line and my two-stroke will work fine. Everyone experiences these insignificant things to fix, manage and put back on our boats to make them the best they can be.
At the very least, to turn them into boats that will further our purposes.
Let's have some fun
It's a great time of year to put our boats in the water. And there has never been a better time to take to the sea with family or friends, to enjoy the unfettered freedom - or almost - that the sea offers us. The price of this freedom is quite modest if you look closely. Equipping ourselves with a few safety materials (vests, rockets, nautical charts...) gives us the possibility to travel the world or, more modestly, to draw circles in the water.
We are free
Contrary to this current music, we do not lose our freedom or our ability. We are invited to protect each and everyone. As we are used to do as boaters. The only difference this season is that we have to share our life jackets turned masks with a few more people. With everyone, in fact.
Further apart, but together
There has never been a better time to reconnect with other boaters, and even beyond our community. As citizens, we will have to participate in getting the system back on track. We all have the means to do so. By buying at the local Shipchandler what we wanted to order on Wish. By going to buy bread at the baker's in the port where we will anchor in July. By explaining, also, to our pontoon neighbors that it is to protect them, that we keep a little more distance with them when we help them to moor. Finally, by just going to say Thank You to the harbourmaster for having taken care to check the boat's moorings this winter.
Formidable solidarity
The tradition of solidarity and mutual aid of the people of the sea, of which we have the honor of being a part, has been revealed to public opinion in recent months. The SNSM, our Sea Rescue Institution, has deserted its pontoons to participate in the organization and operation of the COVID test centers. This voluntary solidarity honors all the members of the association and charges us to remain, yachtsmen, professionals of the sea, boaters as well as fishermen, worthy and proud to belong to this great family of water, salty as well as fresh.
Tribute(s)
This weekend and the following ones, we will rush to start our engines, hoist our sails and have fun. Let's remain cautious and attentive to all those who, in their flesh, in their soul, in their families, in their profession or in their voluntary activity, have suffered, are suffering or will suffer, much more than us, from this period.
In their honor, let's have some fun. A lot of fun. A joy comparable to the one we felt the first time we floated our boats.
After all, that's what being a boater is all about.
Have a great and brilliant season together!
