We finally got the mast up! The day started with a couple of hours trying to sort out the standing rigging and where it all attaches. I took the time to read the forums and tips for getting the mast up. So we first made sure that non of the lines where tangled. We also made sure the main halyard looped through the top of the mast and tied it down on the mast step.
Once the Mast was up, we where super excited to get the boat out in the open water….
Here is where things get funny, interesting, with a couple tense moments.
First you have to know we did all of our certifications and ASA classes on a 35 footer, with Steering wheel and inboard engine. This has a tiller!!! New to us, and an outboard.. Also new to us 🙂
Getting out of our neighborhood, I think everyone assumed we where drunk, because we could not keep a straight line to save our lives.
We finally are almost out of the canal, and Lauren is handling the steering, when suddenly she is going towards one of the markers! Immediately we all start doing back seat driving!! which makes the situation worse. New to a tiller, she forgets things are backwards, so no we are doing a full 360 degree turn (A DOUGHNUT!) just before a bunch of rocks…..
So we all laugh, crash avoided, and we get out in the open. Now its time to get the sail up for the first time. It actually went super smooth.. I went forward while she took us into the wind. We lowered the Keel, and then put the rudder in the water. cut the engine, and I raised the mainsail. Right away the boat wanted to go.
It felt so rewarding after 2 weeks of working on the boat, to feel her go on her own. She just took off in the wind. It was a beautiful moment.
Then we tried a couple tacks, and learned right away, that we need to make the boat ours, with cleat placement etc.. It will come to us with experience.
Finally on our way home and in the narrow canal.. when I decided to try to make the engine run smoother by changing the position of it. OOOOOOPPPPSSS! Don’t do this when the current is strong and wind as well.
Under only engine power, the engine cut out, and we started drifting towards the sea wall and the rocks. Yep we where those idiots you see on a boat going straight at the sharp rocks.. Oh wait, add the fact that its the entrance to our neighborhood 🙂 Yep Newbie sailors coming through!!!!
Lauren quickly run forward to push us off the sea wall, while I kept trying to get the engine to kick on. Except in reverse, it would kick out of the water and punch me in the chest. Eventually i laid on it, and got it to engage. For sure it was a heated moment, but we pulled it off.. just a very close call with lots of rocks and current.
All and all, a very successful maiden voyage. More to learn and experience. Our learning curve is so steep and rewarding. Stay tuned.
