An Alum Creek Christmas Tale
Published 12:42pm on 24 Oct 2025
T'was right before Christmas and out on the lake, not a creature was stirring, not a duck or a drake.
The sails are folded and bundled and bagged, the dock lines and sheets on hooks, flaked, coiled, some sagged.
The sailors tucked in on couches and chairs, with sail books and magazines and far away stares.
Visions of fair winds, good starts and clean tacking, new season hopes, none of them lacking.
A morning sail, an evening cruise, a night on the hook,
A rainy afternoon, below deck with a good book.
Some wine in the moonlight, a hand on the tiller, sharing a blanket next fall, when in blows a chiller.
A clean line on a Wednesday night, a fierce tacking duel, will set us just right.
Flying the kite on a long downwind run, being the first at the mark, now that would be fun.
Yelling Starboard, Starboard, Starboard, Starboard I say, and rail down driving forward, never giving way.
These are the dreams we sailors share, these are the hopes and embers we bare,
As we wait and ponder til' we launch again, I'll see you in Spring, my boat and my friend.
In my mind's eye, I see them. The daring Kaotic is first with her music a'blaring.
Then comes Sledgehammer, sails trimmed so nice; that captain you know, he's as cool as ice.
GriffSail is there too, overtaking So Smooth; next season my friends, next season we'll prove.
Kracken is rail-down, always in the hunt; Serendipity challenges, pushing for the front.
Then there's the pink boat, La Mafiosa I'm told; that Captain's grin, it never gets old.
Flying Circus and Water Feature on a downwind run,
Two & a Half Hoys, Knapp Time, Crasher, having fun.
Outtasight, Turtle Love and Mystery Machine,
Agape, Miss Stress, all keeping it lean.
Rise and Shine, Ready or Knot, Sanity, Old Blue,
Racing wouldn't be the same if not racing with you.
2nd Wind and Belonger, Reward and Knight n Gale.
Watch out for the rocks. Kevin, beware, don't impale.
Born To Run, that Buckeye Boat, Potter in the RIB,
Our racing is great, and that's no fib.
American Kids, On Air and yes, one more, Small Flying Patio Furniture
All sailing to score.
If you are a racer, and I left your boat out, I intended no slight,
It is nearly Christmas you know, and well, I gotta catch a flight.
But there's more to this ole' Alum Creek Tale, there's more going on than just a nice sail. There's enough going on to bury the rail.
There's a mission, a purpose, a job to be done, there's a calling, a vision a great love to share.
There's a gift to be given, and it happens out there.
Adult Learn To Sail is what I'm here to say, Adult Learn To Sail, we need you today.
We need you, my friend, your boat and your skill; it's easy, you know, just say I will.
We'll have students a plenty, all eager and ready, to jibe and to tack, to steer straight and steady.
Someone passed you a line and taught you a knot,
Like that sailor to you, you won't be forgotten.
The gift you will give, may ripple for years, to teach them to sail, overcoming their fears.
Adult Learn To Sail is what I'm here to say, Adult Learn To Sail, we need you today.
We need you, my friend, your boat and your skill, it's easy you know, just say, "I will."
In my mind's eye I hop on my boat, I loose from the dock and away will I float.
I whistle the wind and sheet in just so, with a westerly breeze, north I will go.
Out here on the water, in this place we hold dear,
I whisper a prayer and thank God I am here.
And over my shoulder as I slip out of sight,
I wish Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!