Originally posted Sept. 25, 2002
Whether it's painting a house, pole vaulting, or, as I would find out, sailing, it's never as easy as it looks.
My cousin recently "gave" me a 13' Chrysler sailboat, a two-man boat, with a main sail that is said to be a fun craft to sail. Having learned the basics of sailing on a similar Laser boat with my brother about 30 summers ago at the posh Monterey Yacht Club, I set out to renew my experience with things nautical. What could be finer, I dreamed, than an afternoon sail and teaching the basics and thrills of sailing to my 11-year-old son.
Well, after the first day, root canal comes to mind. I have about as much business being on the water as Adam Sandler has playing Shakespeare.
Made my maiden voyage at Folsom Lake Saturday. I think the Titanic had a more successful debut. I made about every mistake possible...twice. First of all, you really need two people to rig the thing. I finally get the mast up, and the line for the sail is so high up there I had to take it down in order to fetch it. That happened several times.
Backing up with the trailer is no cinch, either. Took me forever to get down the ramp. Once in the water, the boat, with the sail now attached, starts to take off with a gust of wind. I thought the jalopy would slam into one of the nice power boats, but narrowly missed it. But it capsized in the marina. No problem, as I capably righted the craft.
OK. Now I'm on the water, and the boat is starting to move pretty well. This is fun, I was hollering. But the traveler lines are tangled and I can't move the tiller. Can anything else go *&^$% wrong here??
Sun is setting so I better get back. But can I? I maneuver toward the marina and slowly make way toward home but the wind and current blow me 50 yards east of my target. Should have tacked well west, I guess, then drifted into position. I was so frustrated that after I got beached, I just walked the dumb boat around to the marina. It is now 10 minutes past dusk.
Oh no. Now I must get the trailer in position in the water to fetch the now-stinking vessel. After a 25-point reversal, the trailer is in position...diagonally. Oh well. I stumbled around in the dark to bring the boat to the trailer and fumble with the ropes to secure it. An experienced boatsman loses patience watching this comedy of errors: "Hey dude, how about taking care of that out of the water. You're taking up two spaces." "Right," I respond, muttering apologies about my first time.
I got home around 9:30 p.m. to a warm welcome from my family, who was growing concerned about my whereabouts. But I had persevered. I struggled through adversity and completed a solo sail on Folsom Lake.
My cousin recently "gave" me a 13' Chrysler sailboat, a two-man boat, with a main sail that is said to be a fun craft to sail. Having learned the basics of sailing on a similar Laser boat with my brother about 30 summers ago at the posh Monterey Yacht Club, I set out to renew my experience with things nautical. What could be finer, I dreamed, than an afternoon sail and teaching the basics and thrills of sailing to my 11-year-old son.
Well, after the first day, root canal comes to mind. I have about as much business being on the water as Adam Sandler has playing Shakespeare.
Made my maiden voyage at Folsom Lake Saturday. I think the Titanic had a more successful debut. I made about every mistake possible...twice. First of all, you really need two people to rig the thing. I finally get the mast up, and the line for the sail is so high up there I had to take it down in order to fetch it. That happened several times.
Backing up with the trailer is no cinch, either. Took me forever to get down the ramp. Once in the water, the boat, with the sail now attached, starts to take off with a gust of wind. I thought the jalopy would slam into one of the nice power boats, but narrowly missed it. But it capsized in the marina. No problem, as I capably righted the craft.
OK. Now I'm on the water, and the boat is starting to move pretty well. This is fun, I was hollering. But the traveler lines are tangled and I can't move the tiller. Can anything else go *&^$% wrong here??
Sun is setting so I better get back. But can I? I maneuver toward the marina and slowly make way toward home but the wind and current blow me 50 yards east of my target. Should have tacked well west, I guess, then drifted into position. I was so frustrated that after I got beached, I just walked the dumb boat around to the marina. It is now 10 minutes past dusk.
Oh no. Now I must get the trailer in position in the water to fetch the now-stinking vessel. After a 25-point reversal, the trailer is in position...diagonally. Oh well. I stumbled around in the dark to bring the boat to the trailer and fumble with the ropes to secure it. An experienced boatsman loses patience watching this comedy of errors: "Hey dude, how about taking care of that out of the water. You're taking up two spaces." "Right," I respond, muttering apologies about my first time.
I got home around 9:30 p.m. to a warm welcome from my family, who was growing concerned about my whereabouts. But I had persevered. I struggled through adversity and completed a solo sail on Folsom Lake.
and here i thought OUR voyage on a little sailboat was your FIRST, your MAIDEN, or your VIRGIN trip to sea... never mind that it turned out about the same...
ReplyDelete