Hi Everybody,
Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I just purchased a 1977 Hunter 33 a week ago and spent three and a half days sailing her from Port Orange, FL down the ICW to my home port in Port St Lucie. Wind was blowing hard nearly the whole way, from 10 knots when we left to one eveing blowing steady at 20-25 knots and gusts to thirty. Not ideal for the first trial run but very exhilirating flying at hull speed all day and surfing the river waves a third of the time!
The boats been mostly idle for the past 2 years, so there were a few issues to care for, like the gear shift cable linkage coming undone as I left the marina. I had to navigate my way back up the channel and into a berth in reverse! And then there was helmsman error when I forgot I was towing the dinghy as I was leaving and she lodged her poor little self behind a piling doing a stern over bow flip before the tow line snapped! Yes, I was embarrased. Yes, I hauled her onto the deck after that.
Ask my wife if I bothered checking to fill the water tanks before we left, uh hum. I mean there was water running at the tap, who would know we'd run out the next day.
The highlight of our trip was by far Thanksgiving day. I woke at 6 AM, raised sail, pulled the anchor and there alongside my port quarter, a massive 6 ft sea turtle greeted me before the morning sun twinkling on the water. It was surfing all day down the river, playing the helm to the wind shifts and gusts. I think I enjoyed watching my step son have his first experience sailing most of all and later, that evening, in a quiet sheltered anchorage we sat down to a salmon and shrimp Thanksgiving dinner and I was never so thankful for life being so good.
Well, I hope I haven't broken any rules rambling on so much.
I appreciate being here and look forward to your friendship and comradery.
Just wanted to say hello and introduce myself. I just purchased a 1977 Hunter 33 a week ago and spent three and a half days sailing her from Port Orange, FL down the ICW to my home port in Port St Lucie. Wind was blowing hard nearly the whole way, from 10 knots when we left to one eveing blowing steady at 20-25 knots and gusts to thirty. Not ideal for the first trial run but very exhilirating flying at hull speed all day and surfing the river waves a third of the time!
The boats been mostly idle for the past 2 years, so there were a few issues to care for, like the gear shift cable linkage coming undone as I left the marina. I had to navigate my way back up the channel and into a berth in reverse! And then there was helmsman error when I forgot I was towing the dinghy as I was leaving and she lodged her poor little self behind a piling doing a stern over bow flip before the tow line snapped! Yes, I was embarrased. Yes, I hauled her onto the deck after that.
Ask my wife if I bothered checking to fill the water tanks before we left, uh hum. I mean there was water running at the tap, who would know we'd run out the next day.
The highlight of our trip was by far Thanksgiving day. I woke at 6 AM, raised sail, pulled the anchor and there alongside my port quarter, a massive 6 ft sea turtle greeted me before the morning sun twinkling on the water. It was surfing all day down the river, playing the helm to the wind shifts and gusts. I think I enjoyed watching my step son have his first experience sailing most of all and later, that evening, in a quiet sheltered anchorage we sat down to a salmon and shrimp Thanksgiving dinner and I was never so thankful for life being so good.
Well, I hope I haven't broken any rules rambling on so much.
I appreciate being here and look forward to your friendship and comradery.
