C
capt. frank
my first real sailing experence was on a 17 ft. siren my first sail boat .i brought the boat in dec. and having read some books and viewed a vidieo or two i had some nice sails on the bay gained a modest amount 0f confidence and was very happy,then came a beatuful day in march living not five minutes from the bay ilaunched my little sloop and with anice fresh breeze i was sailing amongst some huge sailing monsters when the breeze turned to a moderate wind .i had full sails up and was flying then while on a port tack i was hit by a very strong gust now excitement turned to fear as my little sloop was rail in and still going i let go the main sheet and tiller to come up in to the wind and recover when she came about ithen had to quickly change jib sheets adjusd the main take the tension off the boom vang that somehow ihad way to tight . i didnt realize all the time this nightmare was taking place a sailer in a big sloop was watching and commented as i went flying by in the oppisite direction that he never saw a boat come about so fast and that i must a old hand at this, not knowing that i was scared half to death p.s that was three years and many sea miles ago ijust brought a27 catilina