Special Thanks for Help From the Dock

[patbratton]

I decided to go sailing last Wednesday, by myself. I added a few additions to the Wet Dog (Hunter 240) and decided to take her out for the first time by alone. As I completed the check list I backed out of the slip using my new Mercury Propane outboard (great choice in motors). On the dock I saw Tim and Blake. Tim lives on an Hunter 27 footer, two boats down from me. Blake works on the docks repairing outboard motors, cleaning, rigging, just being helpful. They were waving to me and asked if I wanted a crew. I pulled next to the dock and they hopped on. It was the first time I had been able to sail with an experienced crew. I gave no instruction, in fact they were ahead of me most of the time.
They gave overwhelming approval on the boat. They could not believe how well she sailed and how much room there was below. They were really blown away. After flying across the lake and back at about 6 plus mph we dropped sail and motored back in. By the time I had the propane turned off and the shore power reconnected they had re packed the jib bag, dressed up the lines and had the mainsail cover on. I was so delighted that we did the same thing the next day. I discovered that Blake had also cleaned the inside of Alan Kelly's Kelly Girl (Marshal Catboat) and was repairing his inboard engine. These are young guys and have no trouble jumping around the boat. I am 75 and it was a God sent having them around. Thanks again Tim and Blake.

 

[Tally Ho]

Nice to have (experienced) friends.

I like sailing alone, but always nice to have good crew.

Greg

 

[Tom J]

I decided to go sailing last Wednesday, by myself. I added a few additions to the Wet Dog (Hunter 240) and decided to take her out for the first time by alone. As I completed the check list I backed out of the slip using my new Mercury Propane outboard (great choice in motors). On the dock I saw Tim and Blake. Tim lives on an Hunter 27 footer, two boats down from me. Blake works on the docks repairing outboard motors, cleaning, rigging, just being helpful. They were waving to me and asked if I wanted a crew. I pulled next to the dock and they hopped on. It was the first time I had been able to sail with an experienced crew. I gave no instruction, in fact they were ahead of me most of the time.
They gave overwhelming approval on the boat. They could not believe how well she sailed and how much room there was below. They were really blown away. After flying across the lake and back at about 6 plus mph we dropped sail and motored back in. By the time I had the propane turned off and the shore power reconnected they had re packed the jib bag, dressed up the lines and had the mainsail cover on. I was so delighted that we did the same thing the next day. I discovered that Blake had also cleaned the inside of Alan Kelly's Kelly Girl (Marshal Catboat) and was repairing his inboard engine. These are young guys and have no trouble jumping around the boat. I am 75 and it was a God sent having them around. Thanks again Tim and Blake.

Good on ya, Pat. I'm 72, and could probably use Tim and Blake's help in a couple of years.

 

[PaulK]

We gathered a pick-up crew on the dock for a sail one day and had a blast on our J/36. My wife and I , another couple and their son. We motored out and, not wanting to be too crazy, hoisted just the main with a reef in it. Beating into the 4 foot waves was throwing spray all over everybody so we were happy to head off. The speedo hit 12.5 knots with us going dead downwind. The bow wave was making rainbows off the beams. It was blowing over 40 knots. Glad we had them aboard.