3 days and 3 first's

EO32 · #1 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008

I did my first overnighter.

I started sailing at 16 on El Toro's, had an 18ft SolCat for years and was a partner in a 26ft T-Bird, but never had a big enough boat to overnight on.

My wife and I took off, went through the locks, out to Puget Sound, sailed down to Blake Island State park and paid $10 to hook up to an mooring buoy.

All of the west side buoys were full so we were on the North Side.

The bobbing, rocking, gurgling and squeaking was hard to sleep to, but having to get up to move the mooring line to keep the buoy from rubbing next to my ear in the v-birth was a lot of fun also.

But, there’s more first’s to come.

Chris

SVDistantStar · #2 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008

I know the feeling there. When i bought Distant Star, i hadn't even sailed on a small boat. We bought DS on the hard, and as it would happen when we went in the water, the boatyard didn't have docks to tie up to, so it was splash and run for me. We got splashed, sat in the slings for a bit to make sure we wouldn't sink and then headed out. Made it to the anchorage about 10pm, dropped the anchor and didn't sleep a bit that night. I had slept onboard a few nights at the yard, but the boat didn't move there. That was a day worth of firsts for me.

EO32 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008

The next day we ran south to Quartermaster harbor and dropped the hook.

First time using an anchor. The harbor was calm and there were no boats around, so it was good practice. Had a great afternoon and slept well.

sailortjk1 · #4 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008

Good for you.
Heres to many new firsts yet to come.

EO32 · #5 (**permalink**) 08-18-2008

We all know the saying about running aground, but I had my first run aground.

I guess my wife and those green markers are really there for a reason.

Going into Eagle Harbor, to avoid getting close to the Bainbridge Ferry, I cut across to a quick halt.

I could not back off with the motor, so I used my Sailnet knowledge and tossed the stern anchor out, pulled the rode through the bow chocks and up to the mast winch. Pulled her off with no problems. I have a full heavy keel, so no damage was done, only my pride.