What do you northerners do on winter weekends?

This is prime sailing season in south Florida, but what do northerners do now that the boat is packed away for the winter? Other kinds of recreational activities? Building/repairing boats? Remodeling the kitchen? Catching up on all the work you missed while sailing during the summer?

A fair number of us hardy Brits don't stop sailing all year round. Some of the best 'open' regatta's are over Xmas and New year. Can get a little chilly in Feburary, but we're a hardy bunch. We also pop over to the alps for a little skiing too

Hi Mary,
Well, we drink Rye Whiskey, play video games, surf the internet, ski, snomobile, and dream about how to get to Fl to sail!
Dave

Some skiing/snowboarding, and lots of physical excercise to get back in shape after a summer with sailing.

Doing some refurbishing in the house (fortunately only two of the bedrooms this time), to keep 'she who must be obeyed' happy, and nurturing the family.

Over christmas, there is time to build a new snuffer, re-build the mainsheet system and put it inside the boom, make a set of rudders and keels for an old Tornado and a new jib/mainsail for the spring. Lots of stuff to do, if I can find the time for it!

Ski,Ski and then a little skiing

Skiing, school, skiing, school, job, skiing, skiing, school. Probably should be more school than skiing. Funny how university sports can actually take more time than the education part. Winter is usually when i do most of my traveling to.

We're perparing the van and Prindle for the 21 hour drive to the Keys in a couple weeks. Also fixing up the skis for a Summit county trip in February. And I'm waiting for my first issue of Catamaran Sailor magazine to arrive.
Jack
Fort Loramie, Ohio

Newport RI

http://www.hobie14.frostbiting.org/

They have to be joking, I left RI after the blizzard of '78, and it was cold sailing Narragansett Bay even in the summer. I remember chopping lots of wood and watching football.

Time to put away the A cat and Fire up the iceboat.
I was getting tired of sailing around at 10-15 knots anyway. Time to go fast for a change. The reality of the situation is that 10 degrees F with 20 knots of wind and a large sheet of black ice is about the best life can get. It beats the hell out of sweltering in the Florida Keys anyday. In fact, the only open water I want to see in the next 5 months is in my beer mug.
Sail Fast,
Sail Hard Water

Eric Anderson DN US 5193

Wow, I have always wanted to try that.Not much chance here in eastern Pa. though.

Oi, Mary's talking to northerners Simon - Grafham ain't North! The Firth of Forth, now that's North... Going to be a balmy 5C tomorrow though!

Similar at Grafham, but I'm not sailing at the moment - Very nasty chest infection (2nd load of anti-biots) and I'm feeling like crap at the moment.

Another thing I do when there is no wind (or Grafham is Frozen) is Juggle. Balls, Clubs, rings and torches (not at the same time of course ). Plan for this winter is to crack 5 Balls.

I live in Colorado. What do you think we do all winter. I also dream about sailing in Florida. Hopefully we'll see you guys more next winter.

Well, I dream about skiing in Colorado -- but that was a former life.

As someone that didn't get their cat in the water for the past two seasons, I dream about having the time next year to sail more often and get the boat wet! I also dream about skiing in Colorado, and sailing in Florida...

Shovel snow, build a new sailbox in the basement, repair weekend battle damage on the boat, shovel snow, make final plans for the Tiger Worlds in California, inspect and replace (if needed) all standing and running rigging, work the Division 10 booth at the Strictly Sail Boat show in Chicago, shovel snow, go iceboating, go skiing, go to fleet (www.fleet276.com) meetings, shovel snow, go snowmobiling, get the spinnakers repaired, rent a good movie and cuddle with the significant other in front of the fireplace. Did I forget to mention shovel snow?
If you're suffering from sailing withdrawls here is a remedy. Put your wetsuit on, your harness and lifejacket too. Turn your bathroom shower on (cold) full blast, step into the shower and hoot at the top of your lungs while smiling. Snort some salt if you want the "ocean" effect. Repeat as necessary when withdrawl symptoms appear. Hopefully this fix will get you through the winter.

So many things to do, so little time. Before you know it, we're back on the water in the spring.

John Bauldry
Clarkston, Michigan
Hobie Tiger 1317

Last year I was thinking about putting all the gear on and trapezing off the couch from a trap line screwed into the ceiling while someone threw water on me.

[OT]Reminds me of the Worrel 1000 ad i saw somewhere. They was driving to the race, while trapping out of the side of the car and flying a set of wheels. This was of course a drawing and not a photo![/OT]

I'll be quiet now..