- Oct 22, 2014
- 24,805
After a signing-in ceremony held before the ladies of the house, my Grandson became a member of the SV Hadley Crew. Rank: Swab.
We provisioned our ship for a 3-day cruise and drove to the boat, anticipating a load-out, brief overnight orientation, and sleep, then untie the lines and head for the high seas.
Mother Nature decided that our plans were ambitious, presenting us with Gale Warnings, freezing temperatures, and rain squalls. We settled in to deal with the weather. Between the rain squalls, we conducted a couple of training sessions. Basic seamanship knots, engine maintenance, preparation for engine start, sail rigging, docking, and undocking procedures were covered.
He now understands his job with docking - using the stern bridle to come alongside. We refuelled the boat, and he did a good job with the boat handling at the fuel dock. We covered fire procedures, emergency radio use, securing a line on a cleat, dressing the running line in loops on the safety line, Man Overboard, and basic helmsmanship with tacking.
All of that and the reminder to have fun. We stayed dry during the rainstorms by riding the Ferry across Pocession Sound, and back. Then, since it was nearby, we went on a tour of the Boeing Everett Factory, which produces the 747, 767, 777, and 787 airplanes. This facility is known for being the largest airplane manufacturing plant in the world. Even sat in an F18 simulator where we got to fly the plane and walk away from the crash after attempting to land.
We set sail on Thursday morning and reached the Port of Poulsbo about 6 hours later. My grandson handled the helm through the narrow Agate Passage against a 2-knot tidal current, safely avoided the anchored boats in Liberty Bay, and when safely secured in our slip, proceeded to devour a meal that I thought could have served two 12-year-olds.
After visiting the local aquarium, which features a 10-month-old Giant Octopus, we untied our boat and sailed out into the Puget Sound, where the CG posted a Small Craft Advisory with winds at 14-knots gusting to 19 and wind-generated waves of 3-4 ft. It was a bit sporty. We managed the conditions well with a single reef in the Foresail and the Main. Making it back to the Port of Everett before sunset.
I think I may have the makings of a future sailor. He is already planning our next adventure. I gave him a Waggonners Guide to the Puget Sound waters. He is going to plot out a map of our next trip, choosing the ports of call and how we should get to our destinations.
We provisioned our ship for a 3-day cruise and drove to the boat, anticipating a load-out, brief overnight orientation, and sleep, then untie the lines and head for the high seas.
Mother Nature decided that our plans were ambitious, presenting us with Gale Warnings, freezing temperatures, and rain squalls. We settled in to deal with the weather. Between the rain squalls, we conducted a couple of training sessions. Basic seamanship knots, engine maintenance, preparation for engine start, sail rigging, docking, and undocking procedures were covered.
He now understands his job with docking - using the stern bridle to come alongside. We refuelled the boat, and he did a good job with the boat handling at the fuel dock. We covered fire procedures, emergency radio use, securing a line on a cleat, dressing the running line in loops on the safety line, Man Overboard, and basic helmsmanship with tacking.
All of that and the reminder to have fun. We stayed dry during the rainstorms by riding the Ferry across Pocession Sound, and back. Then, since it was nearby, we went on a tour of the Boeing Everett Factory, which produces the 747, 767, 777, and 787 airplanes. This facility is known for being the largest airplane manufacturing plant in the world. Even sat in an F18 simulator where we got to fly the plane and walk away from the crash after attempting to land.
We set sail on Thursday morning and reached the Port of Poulsbo about 6 hours later. My grandson handled the helm through the narrow Agate Passage against a 2-knot tidal current, safely avoided the anchored boats in Liberty Bay, and when safely secured in our slip, proceeded to devour a meal that I thought could have served two 12-year-olds.
After visiting the local aquarium, which features a 10-month-old Giant Octopus, we untied our boat and sailed out into the Puget Sound, where the CG posted a Small Craft Advisory with winds at 14-knots gusting to 19 and wind-generated waves of 3-4 ft. It was a bit sporty. We managed the conditions well with a single reef in the Foresail and the Main. Making it back to the Port of Everett before sunset.
I think I may have the makings of a future sailor. He is already planning our next adventure. I gave him a Waggonners Guide to the Puget Sound waters. He is going to plot out a map of our next trip, choosing the ports of call and how we should get to our destinations.
