Old Mainsail.

24.15N 110.3W.

We needed a new mainsail when we purchased Gitano in 2002. In spite of that fact, our old mainsail drove us through six full seasons. She drove us through several Tehuantepec-kers of Mexico’s Hurricane Alley though we swore we would only sail through one. She drove us through the worse winds we ever faced -- being the Papagayos -- herself suffering some significant tears in the old fabric.

She is a large old style sail. She can make you proud when she is set right and full. She humbles you when you don’t quite know what you are doing and are getting overpowered and drug across wind waves rather than cutting gracefully through them.

I have learned to sail under her. I have sat under her shade while cruising through the day in the company of dolphins. In my many irrational moments while under sail, I have begged for wind to fill her up so that we could continue to sail without the engine. There were other moments when I have begged for the wind not to fill her up too much requiring us to turn to and reef her in. Always when underway, we were aware of her presence...under her tutelage. Her instruction was on occasion demanding...but more often subtle and forgiving.

So, I am sad today as we replace her with a new-to-us sail. Life in the tropics simply took its final toll on her fabric leaving it too easy to rip and tear. The re-cut sail looks like it will work well…but it will never be the same as our old (and we think original mainsail for the boat).

I will miss her...