I put my darling little Ockelbo T-14 into the water this weekend. She is on land through the winter and along with fellow club members we launched our marine vessels for the season.
Boat clubs and boat people in Sweden are special. Firstly, as an association and not a business, fees and club expenses are kept low strictly due to member input. We do all the work. Secondly, they tend to attract interesting characters.
My club thankfully has few of the pedantic types. They’re the ones who only use the correct marine terminology –There’s right or left side of a boat, it’s starboard or port.– They also keep everything stowed away, after all…you must always keep your ship, well…ship shape. That’s for the club across from us.
However, we have one or two of the “know-it-all” righteous types. They’re the ones who point out you arrived 2 minutes late or forgot to write up your name. You know, the stuff that sinks ships.
I am pleased to announce that this weekend the only types actually present at our launch were the kind who endear me to the scraggly boat owner of unpolished little motorboats or wooden sloops; the helpful, easy-going and kind-hearted quiet types who are just glad their little boats are back in the water.
Stockholm is truly most beautiful on the water.
