went for a sail today

My roomate and I took the boat out for it's first real sail after work today.

We had problems getting the motor to run. There wasn't much wind so it was a non issue to hoist the main and then row out of the warf. Got the jib up no problem and we were off. The knotmeter doesn't work, and my digital multimeter isn't percise enough to tell if it's the unit or the AC signal coming from the impeller. I think it's the unit though. Roomie brought his GPS for his motorcycle (ninja x14 or sometthing like that..). Translating to around 3 knots in light wind.

At the same time, dad and his crew took his boat out to practice for the races this weekend. I figured them being otu there was a godo safety blanket for me. They went further out of the harbour into the bay though, as there is bettert wind.

Tide was dropping but I decided to go with it anyway as it was in favour of pointing. I can't point as high as a J/29 or J/30 but meh, it's still half decent. We ended up in the middle of the harbour and then the wind died completely. Being stuck in the tide kinda sucks. so I finally got the motor started and we putted closer to shore. Still no wind. Kicked the motor in again and about 5 minutes later it siezed. It was cycling water as it should, but i think there is probably a dead bug or something in there blocking off the vital flow. so we drop the job and row again out of the tide.

The wind starts picking up so i put the jib up again. and now we're going at a half decent clip, so i'm not complaining. The boat is very well balanced with the sails, which are slightly undersized, but the boat is stil lvery reactive to jib trimming and the tiller isn't heavy, doesn't oscillate, but still gives good feedback.

By the time we get close enough to the yacht club to start getting in, dad's caught up and askes to let him in forst so they can catch me once they are tied up. (boats are next to eachother at the dock). sure, so i go past the enterance while he heads in under his mainsail. I give the tilelr to Roomie and start tying the fenders on. one drags in the water and I think, "thmm, we're going at a good speed" and then i look out at the water. HOLY FUCK. A wind storm came up within 2 minutes and we were in i'd say 20 knot winds.

FUCK.

We're on a starboard tack and the club is to the port behind us, I head up into the wind and tack to turn around rather than a quicker jibe. The wind shifted at this time too, so now we're heading back up but pointing again.
Quicly try to drop the jib, but its kind of akward as Roome isn't sure of what i'm trying to explain. I give him the tiller and pull the jib mostly down.


i depower the main and head in, also doing some sliding to slow down.. and we make it in without an issue, but damn, wasn't prepared for a gail at that time of day.

I'm actually really amazed. Even under the heavy wind, we cna balance the boat easily enough with trimming and our body weight. I have no issues sitting on the lower side in that wind on that little boat either - it feels 'safe' (or maybe cause i'm in control, im not sure).

and the end of my story. Pics are on facebook. Dad's sail is 34, mine is 154.

I read all of this but what I read went like this....

Boat stuff, boat stuff, boat stuff. Motorcycle. Boat stuff, boat stuff, boat doesn't work like it's supposed to. Dad's boat stuff, boat stuff, boat stuff, bad weather.

Very cool that you finally got it to the point that you could take it out though.

OMG you wrote a book.

I'm in discussions with Penguin right now.

Mr_Shifty wrote:

I read all of this but what I read went like this....

Boat stuff, boat stuff, boat stuff. Motorcycle. Boat stuff, boat stuff, boat doesn't work like it's supposed to. Dad's boat stuff, boat stuff, boat stuff, bad weather.

Very cool that you finally got it to the point that you could take it out though.

I stopped reading after boat stuff, boat stuff.

The motorcycle part was interesting.

And how easy was it for you to get your Pleasure Craft Operators Card?

Nanobot wrote:

And how easy was it for you to get your Pleasure Craft Operators Card?

I took a 2 day course over a decade ago, so I can't remember.

cool story bro, really unfamiliar with the terminology but what i could understand musta been for you in the very least something like "oh shit, whats gonna happen next?!" type deal, haha, either way and it sounds like u had a blast, pics and vids would be cool too if u have any. me im a bit shy of the open water anymore. and planes are definitely out of the question. if you knew my luck you would understand but cheers to you in doing something that you obviously love, great story and i cant wait for the next one

jmartyg wrote:

I'm in discussions with Penguin right now.

For real?

turnip wrote:

jmartyg wrote:

I'm in discussions with Penguin right now.

For real?

No.