Getting on with Winter...Brrrr...

The people at BBI will soon be flying off to Cleveland to attend the American Sail Training Association (ASTA) conference. Right now the Black Jack has been winterized and she is awaiting her cover before the snow fall (hopefully). The Fair Jeanne is resting at her dry dock berth in the Rideau locks in downtown Ottawa and will also be covered soon. Putting both these ships to bed each winter is a lot of work and I hope that sometime soon the Fair Jeanne will be able to set sail south once again- to warmth, sandy beaches and palm trees. The Black Jack won't be finding palm trees on her stretch of the Ottawa River anytime soon, but she's a lot easier to put to bed for the winter. Fair Jeanne, on the other hand, was broken into no less than 4 times last winter, despite the fact that we have a security system onboard. It became a regular routine last year to get a call in the middle of the night, hurry as fast as we could down the highway and meet the police...but unfortunately, we were usually there before the police arrived...in our very intimidating pajamas and small jelly-bean shaped car- a force to be reckoned with!

We are hiring our crew for the 2010 sailing season this month. I expect a lot of crew to return and I am glad- because they are great at what they do. It's a rare combination to be good sailors and good teachers, but they have what it takes.