As the last of the autumn leaves swirl into the bay and the sails get folded away, we’re officially calling it: winter is coming.

In fact, as we sit down to write this, we’re watching the first snow of the season fall outside the window. The boats are tucked in, the decks are quiet, and we’re swapping sunscreen for snow boots.

But just because the sails are down for a while doesn’t mean the work comes to an end. We’ve got more boat work projects than we can count this year!

an exciting announcement…
but first, a look back at an amazing season

This past season was one for the books. Our first season under new ownership was a joy and a success thanks to all of you who sailed with us this season.

We saw incredible sunsets, hosted some beautiful weddings and unforgettable proposals, and had more laughs than we could count out on the water. If you joined us this summer, thank you for taking us sailing. You’re the reason we love what we do, and you’re the reason we’re already counting down the days until we can raise the sails again!

now, let the boat work begin!

We often get asked what happens to the boats in the winter (and what happens to those of us who stick around in Door County all winter, too!). Well, we work on them! With four boats all over 40 years old, they need some TLC after a hard season. It may look like the sailors do all the work, but the boats deserve some credit, too.

There are a few things we do every single year, like touching up paint on the topside and bottom, patching sails, freshening up varnish, tightening up stanchions, servicing our block & tackle, and lots and lots and lots of cleaning. I mean, lots.

via GIPHY

We’ll clean bilges, toilets, galleys, every nook and cranny you can think of. We’ll even scrub every single lifejacket, fender, and rope!

But there are also new projects every year! And this year there’s one we’re especially excited about…

This winter, the Edith Becker will be getting a new set of her iconic tanbark sails! This is a huge undertaking for our local sailmaker and we can’t wait to see the fresh set in the spring.

Keep an eye out, as we’ll be recycling her old sails into souvenirs! We don’t want an inch of canvas to go to waste, so we’ll be making bags, wallets, dog collars, and anything else we can dream up. Watch out for the drop, because the pieces will be limited and one of a kind!

We’ll also be re-finishing her decks this spring. We’ll pull out all the old cotton and caulking and start fresh.

She’ll be shining like new before you know it!

As for the other boats, the Passage North is getting a new cabin sole, a brand new teak toe rail, and a new track for her main sail. White Wings is having her varnish entirely re-done, along with new non-skid deck paint, and we’ll be painting her mast. The Friendly’s deck will be sand-blasted and painted (finally!) and she’ll be getting new blocks and pin rails.

It’s not pretty, it’s not always fun, but it’s rewarding, and the boats sure do deserve every touch up and upgrade!

Until We’re Back on the Water

Winter might be long, but it gives us time to dream up new adventures, new sails, and new ways to make your Door County summer even better. Follow along on social media or sign up for our emails to see what we’re working on behind the scenes—we’ll be sharing sneak peeks, stories, and maybe a few frosty boatyard photos along the way.

And if you haven’t yet, share your photos from your sail this summer and tag us! @saildoorcounty