:cry: Father's Day Weekend. Saturday, June 15th. Grandpa ("new" Sprite owner), son and grandson. A small Western NY fingerlake. Late afternoon. A slight breeze(3-5 knots) and overcast sky. Ingredients for disaster!
After a fitful and confusing "rigging" of the tiny vessel, we launched our ship for it's "maiden" voyage. Mother Nature and her vast indifference wasted no time in teaching us the "rules". They are as follows:1). Don't put down the centerboard until you clear the launch bouys. 2). Try going upwind first. 3). If you go downwind first you might not be able to come back unless you are towed by a "party bardge".
I've taken sailing lessons and crewed on 25' sailboats. I understand (I thought) the fundamentals of sailing. But this "adventure" ..... I'm thinking age of the sails, rigging, or small lake topography. We actually "came about" started forward movement against the wind then stalled...then were pushed backwards under full sails (centerboard down). Eventually, sails came down, oars came out and a party boat came by... Love, Dad.
After a fitful and confusing "rigging" of the tiny vessel, we launched our ship for it's "maiden" voyage. Mother Nature and her vast indifference wasted no time in teaching us the "rules". They are as follows:1). Don't put down the centerboard until you clear the launch bouys. 2). Try going upwind first. 3). If you go downwind first you might not be able to come back unless you are towed by a "party bardge".
I've taken sailing lessons and crewed on 25' sailboats. I understand (I thought) the fundamentals of sailing. But this "adventure" ..... I'm thinking age of the sails, rigging, or small lake topography. We actually "came about" started forward movement against the wind then stalled...then were pushed backwards under full sails (centerboard down). Eventually, sails came down, oars came out and a party boat came by... Love, Dad.
