Did you ever have one of those weekends that is just a comedy of errors... we did. Here's my story... We have a trailer boat get together this weekend in Placida Florida. About 20 boats gathered for nights on anchor and general good times. But that's not the meat of the story. We keep our 25 Oday on a trailer, normally with the mast up at marina. It had been about 6 months since we trailered our boat to a destination, so needless to say we were just a bit rusty. We got to Placida on schedule and proceeded to set up the mast, got it stepped, added the boom and ran the main up the slides and down boom. We were kicking butt. We then looked up the mast, and about 2 feet above the spreaders, we noticed that we forgot to take off the 6th of the velcro ties that secure the halyards for trailering. Luckily, about that time, one of the members of our group pulled up in his truck and had an extendable dock pole, we snagged the tie and ripped it down. Great, things are looking up, literally. In our haste to get going, we forgot to secure the jib halyard. Luckily, my guardian angel, Mike from Sarasota met with us at the marina and we scratched our heads as to how to retrieve the halyard. After about 45 minutes of lame attempts of taping dock poles together, it was decided we would hoist my 135 pound 16 year first mate to the top of the mast. It worked like a charm, but he was quick to proclaim exactly how high it is at the top of the mast. (note to self, get a bosuns chair) So, we spent the entire weekend dodging squalls and hanging out and having a wonderful time, with all of our bad luck behind us. Sunday rolls around and we head back to the marina to take the boat out. I back the trailer in, load the boat and everything is going great. Then, one of the on-looker notices that I have a flat tire on the right front trailer tire. We sheered the valce nipple off, and the tire is now unseated from the wheel. Just about then it starts to rain, love it. So we relaunch the boat, my wife and son, volunteer to sail her up the ICW with Mike from Sarasota shadowing them. (note to self, pick up bottle of Cuervo for Mike). I spoke to them this morning, things are going great. So keep them in your thoughts, and wave at the ICW if you're in South Florida. So, getting the tire fixed today. Then gotta pick up my crew in Sarasota, drive back to Placida, put the tire on, drive back to Sarasota, pick up the boat, un stepped the mast, and drive back to Tampa and put the boat away until next weekend when we will try it again. That's my story and I am sticking to it. (Mike has pictures of all of our follies in the event that you all think I am stretching the truth.) Ross_in_Tampa 1979 Oday 25 (enroute via the ICW) "Lola"
