I Am So Sore
I went sailing yesterday. I got the chance and the conditions were right to put Aquaria on the water for the first time. In six years of owning a Mariner 19, Dragonfly, and since last Winter started, Aquaria, I have actually never sailed a Mariner 19.
The day was fantastic and the boat was amazing. I dunked her in our local reservoir, Moore Reservoir.
3500 acre lake created by Moore Dam on the NH/VT boarder in my town.
We got to the ramp some time between 1 and 2 pm. We had to run out and get a USCG approved throwable float and a horn first.
Notice the garnish on the portside shroud, we had to cut very close to the yellow guard pole to get past some low birch branches over the ramp. Sailboats are not the norm on Moore Res.
There are a number of places to launch on the Res, but this one at the end of Old Waterford Rd. Is the only one with a dock. It is also the closest to my house. It was perfect for this job. I moved Aquaria around to the far side and turned her to face the wind while getting her ready. The little Suzuki 4 took us out into the open water where I raised the sails.
My son at the jib sheets.
Burying the gunnel as the squirrelly winds gave us a boost.
There were a few minor details I need to address, but Aquaria did an amazing job. She sailed every bit as well as I imagined she would.
Everything looked pretty good aloft.
Motoring home, it was getting late.
The winds were good, pretty much coming from the South. We sailed to the North end and tacked home until it felt like the evening calm was moving in, then we dropped the jib and pulled the motor to life for an assist with return to the Southern end of the reservoir.
My hands are sore from the sheets, my sides are sore from crouching back and forth under the boom with all the tacking on our return, and my bottom is sore because we didn't take the cushions on this first sail, but it was a great day. And I am grateful for the chance to get on the water under a sail.
-Will
I went sailing yesterday. I got the chance and the conditions were right to put Aquaria on the water for the first time. In six years of owning a Mariner 19, Dragonfly, and since last Winter started, Aquaria, I have actually never sailed a Mariner 19.
The day was fantastic and the boat was amazing. I dunked her in our local reservoir, Moore Reservoir.
3500 acre lake created by Moore Dam on the NH/VT boarder in my town.
We got to the ramp some time between 1 and 2 pm. We had to run out and get a USCG approved throwable float and a horn first.
Notice the garnish on the portside shroud, we had to cut very close to the yellow guard pole to get past some low birch branches over the ramp. Sailboats are not the norm on Moore Res.
There are a number of places to launch on the Res, but this one at the end of Old Waterford Rd. Is the only one with a dock. It is also the closest to my house. It was perfect for this job. I moved Aquaria around to the far side and turned her to face the wind while getting her ready. The little Suzuki 4 took us out into the open water where I raised the sails.
My son at the jib sheets.
Burying the gunnel as the squirrelly winds gave us a boost.
There were a few minor details I need to address, but Aquaria did an amazing job. She sailed every bit as well as I imagined she would.
Everything looked pretty good aloft.
Motoring home, it was getting late.
The winds were good, pretty much coming from the South. We sailed to the North end and tacked home until it felt like the evening calm was moving in, then we dropped the jib and pulled the motor to life for an assist with return to the Southern end of the reservoir.
My hands are sore from the sheets, my sides are sore from crouching back and forth under the boom with all the tacking on our return, and my bottom is sore because we didn't take the cushions on this first sail, but it was a great day. And I am grateful for the chance to get on the water under a sail.
-Will
