[quote=landraider]Well...
Secret Spot launch, and setup went well. Got in the water, and around to the beach to set up eaisly. No traffic, and no one waiting on me to launch their boat. Walked the mast up with little trouble, and got it set. Rigged the jib incorrectly, and it was "stuck" up. I fully understand how the jib goes up now. :) I ran the hoisting line up through the ring that the S-hook is supposed to catch on... So.. once I caught it, there was no way to uncatch it. No bigge though. Raised the main, and got things situated, and headed out into the winds that were blowing directly from the south. :lol: :lol: Silly me.
The obstacle course of broken up peir on the right, and boats moored on the public pier on the left was challenging to say the least. My dad and I were able to tac and reach about 6 times to get out into the channel and past the piers. We totally got RIGHT up in some guys fishing. :roll: :-( Failed a few times to get the boat to tac, or reach, and had to go back at it, and pick up speed to try again. 4 out of 10 on the pucker factor... but no close calls.
Started playing around on in the channel, dodging boats, and pilings... getting my rudders locked down, and getting things sorted. had a pretty good time back and forth for about 20 minutes. Then... to the north, the sky turned black, and the winds picked up to about 20 knots. We tried to do some more maneuvering back and forth, and it was getting wild to say the least. Hull coming up easily, and we just weren't ready for it. We turned in to the wind to tac, and I forgot to uncleat the main... :lol: :-O and when she came around, the wind caught the main, and picked us way way up... ALMOST put it on the side, and I managed to steer us back upwind as it was launching out like a rocket, and un cleated the main. Pucker factor 7 out of 10
We sailed directly over to deer island where they pumped all that sand up, and thought about how we were going to get back to the launch in this wind. After about 20 minutes of poopoo pants clean out, we just decided to head back in, and let the wind push us up on shore. That went really well, and was considerable easier than getting out. We got it to the beach, and I turned her upwind, and pulled up the rudders, and we backed it up on the beach just in time to tear it down in the rain, and 30 knot gusts.
We had to pull the mast down with the jib attached due to my mistake earlier, but that was no big deal. I am certainly glad I practiced stepping the mast in the privacy of my place. :-) At least that went down with minimal problems.
Overall I am glad that nothing bad happened, but I wish my girlfriend would have been able to get out there with me. I just did not feel comfortable taking her out there in that wind with the piers on each side as inexperienced as I am.
BUT..... Boat ran great, hulls had 0 water in them, did not flip it, no one hurt... I'd say it was a good trip.
I REALLY need a more open spot to learn in, or someone with experience to show me the ways. Time for a drink now. Pics to follow. 8-)[/quote]
