Pleiades Celebrations!!!

[Sherry]

Just wanted to share my note of celebration with you! Everyone on this forum has been so wonderful to offer words of wisdom and advice.I bought my 1992 Hunter 30 a couple of weeks ago. She was at a marina about 12 miles from where my weekend house is located on Pickwick Lake, which is part of the TN River.Friday was 'moving day' to get her to the marina near my house. My husband ferried us by car to the boat. We boarded with my best friend, who has only sailed a few times and knows very little about it, another friend who has never sailed, and two small kids. My husband took the car back to the marina near our house and hopped in our power boat to play chase boat for us. We had a lovely day with wind blowing about 8 to 12, so I decided that a 12 mile sail would be far preferable to a 12 mile motor. We talked about our steps in advance, and I got my crew all ready. We set the sails, executed our first tack (I was too chicken to try a jibe first), and started our course for home. We had a lovely broad reach/run all the way - needed only one beautiful, controlled jibe to make our course.Outside the harbor, we doused the sails and headed in. The only thing I had a hard time with was getting the main flaked on the boom by myself. Need to learn tricks for that. Other than that, everything went really well. I was soooo proud of my novice crew! They did really, really well. And I am so happy to have my boat, Pleiades, home now. Thank you all for your encouragement and support. Now I can start on all those projects you've been so kind to give me advice on

 

[John Nantz]

Thanks for the Maiden Voyage Story

Thanks for your “maiden voyag”e story and I’m glad that it turned out so wonderful. Although I wasn’t one of the persons that helped out I enjoyed your successful trip and hope that there are many more. Lake sailing tends to be more work because where there are hills the wind tends to be more gusty and fluky than where it is more open so that’ll keep you on your toes learning how to dump the wind when the gusts hit or do quick sail trims in the shifts. But it’s all a good learning experience. Reading about the “pre sail”, talking about what steps to take and what happens, is just the way my wife would have handled it. Must be that female gene! I got a kick out of that because I’d probably have just jumped in and went. Actually, thinking back on it, that’s what we did on our maiden voyage, on a day in February with cold temperatures, occasional rain, and wind up into the 20kt range. Not a trip one wants to repeat.Hope you have many more wonderful days ahead and certainly you’ll savor the first one.Congratulations!

 

[Rick]

Congrats

We also sail the Tenn River area. Wave at us next time!

 

[Honeyman]

Wonderful story

Thanks for the update, enjoyed your earlier posts while looking at boats. My grandfather was instrumental in the building of all the dams that form the lakes up in that part of the country. My only remaining kinfolk live in the Huntsville, Athens,AL. area and I hope to get up and check out the Pickwick Lake area in the near future. I considered "Pleiades" for a boat name at one time as it has always been one of my favorite star formations that I seem to always be able to look up and find. I'm sure you will enjoy your Hunter and your new sailing grounds, look forward to hearing from you.