Saturday was supposed to be a great sailing day: full of enthusiasm, a stiff breeze and high tide
Sausages, asparagus and pork chops for lunch, lots to drink, a never fired up before BBQ pit
My son on board and 4 others
Reversing out of the slip was the first problem: wheel was touching on the binacle, because of a newly installed compass ( scavanged from the boat yard- a stainless steel dome with a window that closes it)
With some help from other sailors, backed up the boat into the slip, and tried going forward.
That worked
At the Kemah boardwalk, just past it, tried to put the main sail up: we did that, but made a tear 2 feet from the head ( later found, coming back, that the seams fell aprt); so we sailed like that and did OK, but later tried to bring it down and repair: all I had was duct tape and sowing needles (another lesson learned: carry sail needles and sail repair tape in future)
So later we thought: great to get the jib out: we did that too, and you guessed: we tear that also, a much bigger one
Then I thought: Wait, I have a storm sail from a CAL 34 ( salvage yard) but that proved to be totally inadequate, but we sailed on.
Getting back was the problem: could not because the boat parade was still on and went on for hours, so the lake got congested and we ran out of room, so we circled for a while.
This is when it got serious, the current was pushing me back into some pilos sticking out of the water, and could not turn (later found out why); even felt the boat lurch twice because it hit bottom
I tried reverse and it worked: the Hunter goes back in reverse than forward, but after a while decided to call for help and phoned Boat US: I was advised a few months ago to get towing insurance, and that was the best $ 130.00 I ever spent: they were there in less than 2 (2) minutes, so the day was saved
So back to square one: repair sail, get a smaller jib, hunt for a proper storm sail, and check the steering.
Also build me a spare emergency rudder, and most important, learn how to throw anchor so I have time to figure out what to do: I have a nice Bruce and a Danforth, with strong chain, thick enough to tow a 50 foot boat
The bright side: no one was hurt, boat is OK, food was very good, my pride a little hurt...but since I lost my pride when I got into this sailing stuff, nothing was lost
Good lessons learned; the boat handles well, when the steering is OK; at no time felt in real danger, but was close to that
Thought I would share my day with you and will now look around for an adequate jib. Any suggestions of places ( there is one here) are welcome
Happy sailing!
Sausages, asparagus and pork chops for lunch, lots to drink, a never fired up before BBQ pit
My son on board and 4 others
Reversing out of the slip was the first problem: wheel was touching on the binacle, because of a newly installed compass ( scavanged from the boat yard- a stainless steel dome with a window that closes it)
With some help from other sailors, backed up the boat into the slip, and tried going forward.
That worked
At the Kemah boardwalk, just past it, tried to put the main sail up: we did that, but made a tear 2 feet from the head ( later found, coming back, that the seams fell aprt); so we sailed like that and did OK, but later tried to bring it down and repair: all I had was duct tape and sowing needles (another lesson learned: carry sail needles and sail repair tape in future)
So later we thought: great to get the jib out: we did that too, and you guessed: we tear that also, a much bigger one
Then I thought: Wait, I have a storm sail from a CAL 34 ( salvage yard) but that proved to be totally inadequate, but we sailed on.
Getting back was the problem: could not because the boat parade was still on and went on for hours, so the lake got congested and we ran out of room, so we circled for a while.
This is when it got serious, the current was pushing me back into some pilos sticking out of the water, and could not turn (later found out why); even felt the boat lurch twice because it hit bottom
I tried reverse and it worked: the Hunter goes back in reverse than forward, but after a while decided to call for help and phoned Boat US: I was advised a few months ago to get towing insurance, and that was the best $ 130.00 I ever spent: they were there in less than 2 (2) minutes, so the day was saved
So back to square one: repair sail, get a smaller jib, hunt for a proper storm sail, and check the steering.
Also build me a spare emergency rudder, and most important, learn how to throw anchor so I have time to figure out what to do: I have a nice Bruce and a Danforth, with strong chain, thick enough to tow a 50 foot boat
The bright side: no one was hurt, boat is OK, food was very good, my pride a little hurt...but since I lost my pride when I got into this sailing stuff, nothing was lost
Good lessons learned; the boat handles well, when the steering is OK; at no time felt in real danger, but was close to that
Thought I would share my day with you and will now look around for an adequate jib. Any suggestions of places ( there is one here) are welcome
Happy sailing!
