#43: Beating the Winter Blues - how I stay engaged in my sailing over the winter!

Alright winter sucks for us northern sailors! True, I am lucky that my boat is in the water, but it's cold! I haven't sailed in months and I'm going through withdrawal! So, I thought I would let you in on my "happy list". The list of things that I do throughout the winter to keep me looking forward to next season and making sure I'm ready to make the most of it! Enjoy! Other episodes you may enjoy: EP 9: My Top 8 Sailing Books EP 7: Day Trip Planning: Things to Consider EP 19: Which Sailing Course Do I Take? A list of things to do... As always I have a variety of ideas for you to keep the sailing love alive during the winter. Hopefully you find a couple ideas that work for you! Read a good sailing book! Learn a new knot! Animated Knots is great for this... Gear checks - pull off your sails, check for wear and tear. Canvass replacement - do you need to fix or replace anything for your dodger/bimini? Take measurements for new sails if you have access to your boat Chart review & checking out some new sailing destinations! Draw or sketch out some new anchorages... great way to get to know the specific area Take a course! Lots of online courses are available... Google it! Inventory: spare parts, engine parts, tools, first aid kits, electrical parts, etc. YouTube: enjoy someone else's journey... Erik Aaderaa, Sailing Project Atticus, SV Delos Go through personal sailing gear: base layers, shorts, pants, shoes, etc., see what needs to be updated/replaced Make a birthday list! What are some of things you'd LOVE to have on your boat? Winter boat sleepover! Climb up in there, grab a heater, a sleeping bag and have some slumber fun! Create your diagrams! Create diagram of safety gear, spare tools/parts, thru hulls, electrical diagrams, etc. Update your boat binder! Keep you manuals up to date... Create a Pinterest board about reorganizing your boat... Boat meal plan! Pull together some of your favourite recipes Sew some boat sheets for your v-berth and bunks Learn a new skill! Fiber glassing, engine maintenance, splicing, navigation, etc.