The trip started out great. Pulled into the boat launch area easily, was able to put up the mast up and rig the boat quickly. Then I realized a very important fact about sailing in general. Based on where I was going to launch the boat, the preferred wind would have been a south west wind. Today there was a Northerly wind of about 13 mph. Oh my! As I looked out into the harbor it hit me, there is no there is no way I would be able to row out in this. Then like an angel from heaven I noticed my buddy Lou standing on a 35ish foot sailboat. I paused for a second and said, “Hey Lou want to go sailing?” Lou walked over and said, sure lets sail.
So Lou and I stated out from Mattapoisett Ma Harbor, and sailed out to Buzzards Bay.
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/pab/pabpdfs/pab-13.pdf
Now for the lessons:
My Lesson #1: Never attempt to launch your sailboat alone without engine power in Mattapoisett Harbor with a Northerly wind. We’re lucky to have made it out. Lou and I literally walked the boat out along the dock that was 8ft above the water line with boats along the dock and then sailed away. Yes we walked it out, and yes there were a few moments where both of us could have gone in.
So we’re sailing; I was working the Jib, and Lou was working the main. It was a fairly treacherous from the doc navigating all of the moorings and other boats. I was literally polarized with his ability sail and navigate. If you want to know about the first 10-15 minutes of the journey I have no recollection. I’ve blacked it out, sensory overload from the situation.
My Lesson #2: Never attempt to launch your sailboat in a working harbor without a seasoned sailor. Please use Lou liberally in this situation.
So as I said we were sailing. At this point I do have a memory of what was going on. Lou asked me if I wanted to take the controls. We were about half way through the town moorings at this point. I quickly replied, “you take it a little farther”. I really wanted the controls, I just wasn’t ready. After all, I’ve only been sailing for 20 minutes now. I felt I needed to wait at least 30 minutes.
So we switched and I’m at the controls. It felt so good to be controlling the main and moving the rudder. It felt so smooth, that’s the only term to describe it. The boat handled very well, and was moving quite quickly. Sailing into the wind is the best, it just felt so good. We were getting a steady 10-15 mph wind, with some occasional gusts that really tested the boat and me.
My Lesson #3: Always keep the boom line in your hand prepared to let some out. There were many moments where a good wind blew that could have taken us out. Then again, those were the moments I liked the most. I’m a glutton for punishment.
So we sailed probably half way out into Buzzards Bay and started our way back. It was amazing, we tacked many times, and we worked on trimming the main and the Jib. I really understand what the main sail and the jib should look like when they’re trimmed correctly. It was a blast.
So now we’re heading back in, and the trip back was going with the wind. Equally exciting and interesting.
So after all this seasoning and success from the last 2 hours, I figured I’ll take us back in. This is with a northerly wind around 13mph on a sailboat without power. Getting close to the ramp was easy; dropping our speed was the challenge with the main and the Jib.
My Lesson #4: Based on today’s sailing conditions, don’t use the main and the Jib together when approaching the ramp. We used the Jib only, and we were able to capture enough wind to get us into the ramp area without problems.
To sum things up, I learned a bunch today and will be sailing again very soon. There will be many more lessons in my sailing career, and some that might not end happy. I won’t be attempting any northerly wind launches in Mattapoisett without power and I won’t be going out alone when the wind is blowing over 13mph. Not just because I’m not seasoned and shouldn't be out alone, but because sailing is something that should be shared with others. Thanks Lou tell your wife it's my fault you were late.
Jason
