First sail of 2011

Minnewaska · #1 (**permalink**) 05-23-2011

After two weekends of commissioning, one weekend of graduations and a weather grounding, we finally got our first sail in on Sunday. Our original plan was to be sailing by May 1, maybe next year.. It was sunny, about 60 degs with about 7kts of wind. We only sailed down to Dutch Harbor, dropped the hook for lunch and had to motor back in 2kts of wind. Glorious.

But where is everyone? Except for the dinghy race, there was only one other sailboat in the entire West Passage and they were motoring. I will bet it was to get from winter storage to their summer mooring. Even the marina is less than half occupied. The weekend was beautiful.

Returning to our new slip for the first time was not our best performance. Despite our neighbor too our rear not being on the dock yet, I wanted to try the approach as if they were there and not cheat. With my wife at mid-ship with a spring line to toss around a cleat, it seemed a bit far for her on the first approach, so I backed up and repositioned. She makes the throw and misses. There are three hands on the dock waiting, so one completes her toss around the cleat. Just as this seems recoverable, she pulls on the line and her cleat hitch releases from the boat and the line falls in the water. Oh boy. She gets it back, reties it and I'm left to have to spring backward into the empty spot behind me, as the spring is too long to keep me from hitting the boat ahead now. I then walk her up to where she belongs. Of course, we feel like amateurs among our new neighbors, who were kind enough not to say anything.

Then it occurs to me. None of them have been out on the water at all yet and I feel much better..........

AirborneSF · #2 (**permalink**) 05-23-2011

I understand fully! I love sailing, HATE docking. Seems something always goes south, I keep trying, can't say it's getting better, LOL.

capecodda · #3 (**permalink**) 05-23-2011

Any landing that doesn't cause an argument, doesn't cause damage to boat or equipment (yours or others), and doesn't cause injury is a good landing!

Happy sailing season. We just had our first sail a few days ago. Just wish the sun would show itself occasionally up here!

JimsCAL · #4 (**permalink**) 05-23-2011

I've been in for almost 2 weeks and only been out twice. I think this is the 10th consecutive day with a least some rain. At least the two days I did go out were good with enough wind to push the boat to hull speed of 7+ knots.

jimrafford · #5 (**permalink**) 05-23-2011

Most likely everyone is stuck on the hard like me trying to get a dry window to get some work done. We wet store and haul out every 3 years to freshen the bottom paint. I was supposed to get hauled in early April. The yard didn't have any room to haul us til the end of the month. Just finished stripping 20 years of paint and preping the bottom this past weekend.
3 weeks on my back and knees w/ a scraper and sander is not fun but I'll never have to do it again.
Hope to barrier coat and bottom paint this weekend. New graphics and name next week. If all goes well we'll be wet by June. Been watching the wed. evening racing at our club the last few weeks and glad I retired from that!
Jim

chef2sail · #6 (**permalink**) 05-23-2011

Congrats on getting your first sail in. Every dock is like a new adventure all over...just when you have it down perfect....the wind gods or Mr Murrphy takes over. Enjoy your margaritas in knowing you are one of the first ones out in your neck of the woods.

Dave

Minnewaska · #7 (**permalink**) 05-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimrafford

Most likely everyone is stuck on the hard like me trying to get a dry window to get some work done.....

I will bet you are right. Ironically, this past weekend and one prior were forecast to be a complete washout. Both had sunshine on the coast all weekend, while it rain inland. At the end of one day, we watched the thunderstorms roll north of us, while we barely saw a drop. While some jobs, like brightwork or bottom paint, require dry weather, rain is when I prefer to do maintenance/commissioning anyway.

Minnewaska · #8 (**permalink**) 05-24-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by chef2sail

Congrats on getting your first sail in. Every dock is like a new adventure all over...just when you have it down perfect....the wind gods or Mr Murrphy takes over. Enjoy your margaritas in knowing you are one of the first ones out in your neck of the woods.

Thanks Chef. With great misfortune, while we've had our first sail, we've not yet had our first margarita of the season. We have 8 guests coming over memorial day weekend, I'm sure we will properly christen the season then.