A year or so ago, I invited a fellow Sailnetter to go sailing if he was ever in the New York area. Well, Father's day was the day.
Our guest made his way to our marina that morning with his family. ( Wife and 2 young sons,) To be very up front, I was a little bit apprehensive about this visit on a couple different levels. First, I have had words with this menber in the past. (one of many
). Secondly, I am a little embarrass about my boat. Over the last 18 months my boat has received minimal attention. I was going to make up for this spring, but spring has not been cooperating. Mechanically she is perfect, but lets say she needs some lip stick.
We pulled out of the marina at noon and in to the Hudson river. We headed North. Sails were raised into a north wind blowing 10 to 15. We decided that we would sail up to Sing-Sing prison (7 miles) thinking for the boys it would interesting. So off we go, sailing to windward the best we can as the river itself runs almost due North and South and the wind coming out of the North.
Our guest was at the Helm, the way I like it. It is not very often that I get to go for a sail boat ride. We are tacking back and forth across the river not making much progress north. I knew this was going to take us some time as we were bucking a falling tide and the current. What I didn't take into account was the flow of the river after all the rain we been having. We were making almost as much leeway as we making progress. But no complains from our guests. I was apologizing for the knotmeter as it was reading mid 5's and I knew the boat was doing better then that, but there must have been some gunk on the paddle wheel.
One more tack and we would be at Sing-Sing and the sky darken. We got rained on, but thats been this spring. We had been at this for 4 hours or so. The boys got to see Sing-Sing but not as close up as we wished before we headed back. On the way back one of the rivers old gaff rigged schooner's was out sailing and we sailed parallel with her 20 yards in her lee exchanging waves with the crew. I think it was the highlight of the day for the boys.
On the last tack to the marina the gunk cleared from the paddle wheel and the knotmeter jumped up to the low 7's. Our helm's man face was nothing but teeth! We were doing half the wind speed, just what we should be doing. I have been telling him all day that we were sailing faster then knotmeter showed, but he believed me now!
He brought the boat into the dock, and as gentle as you wish put her along side, 1 foot off the dock and let the breeze push her gently in.
Oh, Our guest was our own Smackdaddy and his family. And I am going to take this opportunity to publicly "OUT" Smack. He's a nice guy, with a great family. This on-line thing is an alter-ego! It's not the real Smack!
The thing that impressed me the most is his boys. (4 and 7) All afternoon long it was, May I, and Thank You. The way I was raised and the way I tried to raise my own kids. If I said it once, I said it a dozen times "those kids are not from New York." You and Mrs. Smack are doing a great job with those boys.
Thanks again Smack, I had a great day!
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You guys did much better.
