It has been so still here for the last few days. I went out to the marina today to check in the flooding and maybe do some cleaning. What a surprise to find a nice breeze. I checked my app and saw that it was supposed to keep 9 - 10 for a couple hours. I really wanted to take advantage of this and go out but I was the only one at the dock and I really didn’t want to muck around with folding up the headsail by myself afterward.

After opening up the cabin I looked at jibs, looked at the cleaning supplies, looked back at the jibs and said to myself, “You know, you could just go out under mainsail.”

What do you think I answered? Nothing. That would just be crazy. Instead I just made my way up out of the cabin, back to the outboard, and dropped the engine down into running position. I have been having some trouble starting the engine recently but went ahead and hooked up the fuel line and thought, ”I’ll just give it a few pulls and if it doesn’t start, I’ll get to cleaning the forward part of the cabin. It started on the second pull.


Okay, that is a sign. I pulled the sail cover and made ready to get underway. After casting off the lines the engine was slipped into reverse and given a bit of gas. You know how much I still have to learn? Well, here’s an example: Up to now getting out of the slip has been stressful. Trying to control the tiller, keep the engine alive, direct the engine direction, the gearshift knob, keep the engine alive, not run into the slips behind me, not run into the walkway, keep the engine alive, …. Well, a new carb helped with keeping the engine running and trustworthy and Ric (aka Trim Damnit) convinced me that all I had to do for power was get the boat moving enough for some momentum pushing the tiller just a bit to initiate turn to port, then go to idle. Once clear of my slip, pull the tiller to me, put gear in to forward and twist the throttle open just a bit. That is enough to reverse rear momentum and initiate the corrective turn to get me gliding out of the marina.

It’s all simple, right? I just needed a couple of changes to make it that way for me. A properly running engine, and a bit of sage advice and for the last few times leaving the slip has been an enjoyable maneuver. There is nothing like starting to master something to give a sense of accomplishment, even when you’re old.
With the marina behind me I put the engine in neutral, turned into the wind, and hoisted the main. The Merit fell off a bit and I was immediately gratified with forward motion and being under sail. The beat up the lake began. The breeze was 9 -10 with some gusts to 12 or 13. It was much slower without headsail. However, without having to reset the headsail each tack I was able to concentrate on nailing my heading, traveling, and trimming the main. Fun stuff.

As i cleared the point, heading for the dam, I saw a flash on the other side of the lake. No, not a flash but the dazzle of Mick’s new sail. He was also out for a morning sail and returning, probably, from the far bridge. I figured out an intercepting set of tacks and made way to go say hi. He saw me and did the same. After some pleasantries he headed to the marina and I started toward the dam again. Then I thought, “I wonder which is more important, sail area or waterline. Mick was running full sail and I had only main. Okay, I realize it was not really a valid experiment, but fun nonetheless.

Back at the slip I was really glad I made the choice to sail. Cleaning needs to be done but can be done any day. During the summer it is nice to take advantage of a breeze when it presents itself.

Simmer settles in like a hot towel. The big winds of winter wander back North. Yesterday’s sail saw speeds of two knots, for about 200 meters. The rest was agony without fishing line and tackle. The water skiers and powerboats would had a blast on the calm waveless water. Strangely, only one or two were out. Maybe because the parking lot at the marina is still mostly under water.

I went out to the dock early this morning to fold up the jib that I had stuffed haphazardly into the cabin upon my late return yesterday. Summer camp pickup was waiting and I didn’t need another counselor call, one a season is more than enough. In addition to packing up, I took some time to clean the lazaret cover, still moldy and greasy from years of disinterest.

The whole boat was in similar condition but slowly, a few square feet at a time I am getting it to be at least presentable. Word on the dock is cleaning does not make it any faster and, for what I paid for it, I should just “sail the snot” out of it. Well, maybe I can do both, and less dirt does make it lighter, right?