So, the boat's painted, the kicker started on the second pull, trailer's registered, the lights work, I have four beers chilling and there's a 10% chance of rain - sounds like sailing.
It took us until 9:15 to finally get everything together, not a problem. They predicted 30% rain in the morning and there was none, accompanied by a gentle breeze. 10% chance after 11:00. We got to the ramp and had the mast stepped and rigged in 20 minutes. I positioned the trailer nice and straight in front of the ramp so my wife could back it straight in without a hitch, um, I mean problem. (my e-brake is out so she stays in the cab, foot on the brake) So, on her third try, my wheels were drowning and our baby floated of like a thoroughbred otter. Off went my lovely bride to park while I readied the motor. It started on the second pull (after discovering the kill ring to be out and choice word about my own cranial capacity) and purred. Except, there was no water spraying from the motor. Impeller! I walked up, got the truck, and had it nearly in the water when the ranger, Carl, mentioned that bugs sometimes clog the water tube. I pulled it, blew it out, and praised Carl for his genius. At this point, a spitting rain had started. No problem. There was a 60% chance of no rain. We started down river towards open ocean. 20 minutes lated, #2 buoy in sight, red gong in ear, we are hitting bow first into waves that had to be 6 feet. My bow, 1/2 into the air, water washing over the deck, hull slamming like I've never seen before. Gordon Lightfoot began to sing mournfully. Couldn't wait until we clear the break water! The rain had turned into, well, rain. Time to break out the storm gear. Sometimes, when you use thing so infrequently, you forget about them, like foul weather pants. And the rain increased. We got passed the jetty, out about a mile and the water calmed down to very manageable. The rain was slow and steady, and my butt was soaked. We sailed at about 3 knots on < 5 knot winds for about three hours before returning. It was one of those days when you turn the boat a few degrees to make you THINK that you're actually getting somewhere! Two spilled Diet Cokes and a soggy sandwich later, my wife took a nap but not until we had headed back. An hour or two lated I had sailed past the jetty, right to the marina and the wind DIED instantly. I started the motor and we stuck the sails for out uneventful trip up river. We docked and tied off just in time for the rain to stop.
10% chance of rain . . . makes for a great day of sailing.
It took us until 9:15 to finally get everything together, not a problem. They predicted 30% rain in the morning and there was none, accompanied by a gentle breeze. 10% chance after 11:00. We got to the ramp and had the mast stepped and rigged in 20 minutes. I positioned the trailer nice and straight in front of the ramp so my wife could back it straight in without a hitch, um, I mean problem. (my e-brake is out so she stays in the cab, foot on the brake) So, on her third try, my wheels were drowning and our baby floated of like a thoroughbred otter. Off went my lovely bride to park while I readied the motor. It started on the second pull (after discovering the kill ring to be out and choice word about my own cranial capacity) and purred. Except, there was no water spraying from the motor. Impeller! I walked up, got the truck, and had it nearly in the water when the ranger, Carl, mentioned that bugs sometimes clog the water tube. I pulled it, blew it out, and praised Carl for his genius. At this point, a spitting rain had started. No problem. There was a 60% chance of no rain. We started down river towards open ocean. 20 minutes lated, #2 buoy in sight, red gong in ear, we are hitting bow first into waves that had to be 6 feet. My bow, 1/2 into the air, water washing over the deck, hull slamming like I've never seen before. Gordon Lightfoot began to sing mournfully. Couldn't wait until we clear the break water! The rain had turned into, well, rain. Time to break out the storm gear. Sometimes, when you use thing so infrequently, you forget about them, like foul weather pants. And the rain increased. We got passed the jetty, out about a mile and the water calmed down to very manageable. The rain was slow and steady, and my butt was soaked. We sailed at about 3 knots on < 5 knot winds for about three hours before returning. It was one of those days when you turn the boat a few degrees to make you THINK that you're actually getting somewhere! Two spilled Diet Cokes and a soggy sandwich later, my wife took a nap but not until we had headed back. An hour or two lated I had sailed past the jetty, right to the marina and the wind DIED instantly. I started the motor and we stuck the sails for out uneventful trip up river. We docked and tied off just in time for the rain to stop.
10% chance of rain . . . makes for a great day of sailing.
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