Catalina owners .com I purchased my second sailboat last September it is a 1981 Catalina 27 . It's not my first sailboat as mentioned above but the first one that I was determined to see my project threw on !! It was very sound the bulkheads were solid and the atomic 4 was solid . So this march I started giving her the tlc she deserved! I sanded and reprinted the bottom sanded and repainted the topside . I was on a roll so I stripped her of all her hardware and hatches and teak paint the whole cockpit and deck and redid I the nonskid after 11. Coats of varnish I reinstalled it . I bought a new stove installed a 30 watt solar system with a charge controller connected to two new batteries and completely manage by a in cabin voltage meter. I did many more small projects and brought her back to life . Two weeks ago it was time I had worked so much on her I almost forgot she was destined for the water lol but the day had come where she was floating so now it was time to put all my winter sofa knowledge I had learned in action to make my day dreams of distant shores and sailing a reality . Keep in mind distant shores for this guy right now is the other side of the Chesepeake bay for this guy lol. My first weekend of sailing was amazing!!! I feel like I was born for this !! Friday winds were out of the south about 9 knots I went for it untied the dock lines and raised both sails it was amazing the sunset was hanging low the sails filled with wind and I close hull it out to the middle of the bay and back feeling like I walked on the moon! The very next day I took another couple out with my girlfriend and I expecting the same conditions lol not the case winds were out of the north at sustained 15 knot wind with wind gust at 20 knots there was a small craft advisory so I said what the hell this is sailing right ! I learned a lot that day to say the least 1 healing is fantastic I loved the spray of water on my face and def understood the true meaning of hull speed . 2 sailing in those kind of winds is not the best for a standard setup with a 130 genoa lol. I'm looking for a small used jib now. I also learned that reefing is smart and is not something u do just for safety but for performance and comfortability as well . But all and all it was a great day and I made great time running to fairlee creek and back to middle river ! Once again Sunday held it's own challenges it was warm and sunny with five knot winds that was the hardest day of all I had to pay close attention to the trim of the sails to go anywhere also it was the first time the wind was not going where I wanted to go so I was forced to learn to tack quickly to get where I was going . But what a weekend I am all in and completely stoked ! In the first three days I sailed 30 nautical miles in three contrasting conditions and each one held a certain charm none bested by another . I cud rave about everything during my first two weeks of sailing . But I digress because all of u are already deep in the love affair that I have just begun ! I will end with this Ripple sailed beautifully for me, and every ounce of love I put into her she has gave back ten fold !! I can't wait to make more memories and trie my first weekend on the hook this weekend !
