Maiden Voyage

The first voyage is finally complete!!

Took off from Gravelly Point right next to the runway at National Airport. The ramp is pretty deep and I did not feel like doing the "lower the trailer with the strap" thing that I mentioned in the day 2 experience.

Rigging the boat for the first time was a bit frustrating but it turned out to be pretty easy and I learned a ton. Next time will be much easier now that I have a better idea of what needs to be done and how to do it.

The first thing I learned after getting the boat in the water and being caught in a stiff breeze at the dock was that reverse on my motor does not actually work. This realization was followed by a less than relaxing few moments as the boat drifted away from the dock and toward the amazingly non skid surface of the ramp. The non-skid surface was really appealing as I backed the trailer down the ramp but as my boat drifted toward it rapidly and the fiberglass hull became increasingly in danger of being dashed against it, the non-skid ramp began to loose its appeal.


No the boat did not end up dashed against the ramp. I lept from the boat and managed to single handedly stave off disaster while navel deep in the murkey waters of the potomac. That little incident will not, however, be repeated since I now know that, for the short-term at least, I have no reverse to count on.

Despite a shaky start to the trip, the sailing knowlege came right back to me and we had a great time on the river. The boat handles well and is VERY easy to sail. Several key lessons where gleaned that day:

• ALWAYS do a complete survey of the charts for whatever area you plan to sail in so as not to drag your swing keel on the bottom every 3 minutes.
• Dragging your keel on the bottom makes a horrific sound the first time you hear it.
• NEVER leave the dock without applying sunscreen, liberally, to all of your exposed skin.
• Sunburn really F$%&ing hurts!
• Have your porta-potti set up BEFORE you need it, educate your passengers on its use and encourage them to use it as needed.
• When the owners manual provides a warning that injury may result if the keel winch is not grasped firmly or is released prior to seeing definitive evidence that the keel is fully lowered (such as slack in the cable), one should heed such warnings.
  
• As much as you want them to enjoy it, dogs may be overwhelmed by the first experience and may become attached to your body. Somewhat like a 5th limb.
• Summer is hot and heat makes the human body lose a lot of water. You may not realize it due to the phenomenon known as evaporation, but it happens regardless.
• The term "self-bailing" does not neccessarily equate to dry feet. Proper footwear should be secured.
• Canvas deck shoes are not appropriate footwear.
• The police are not always the bad guys. Sometimes they pull you over just to tell you that your boat strap is no longer holding your new boat to the trailer and is dragging 20 feet behind your trailer as you careen blissfully unaware down the highway.

Despite the lessons learned, we had a great time!! The wind was moving the boat but was not so gusty or strong that I didn't have time to let the sailing knowlege come back to me. The boat is really easy to sail and handles very well even with the keel in its up position.

Overall it was wonderful to be out on the water and sailing!!