Lonely Launch Day

[talbot]

I missed the opening of the season. Trying to catch up, I drove right to trailer parking at the marina and started to rig. The lot was oddly empty. Just before I drove to the ramp, another Day Sailer owner pulled up to tell me there was "more water" at the marina across the lake. "Well, I have a slip here," I said. He told me he didn't think it would be a problem. When I got to the ramp, I saw why. The docks closest to shore were sitting on mud. It was a ghost marina, like pictures from Japan after the tsunami. I had been travelling for the previous three weeks, and had missed the news that the Pacific Northwest is in a major drought.

But the news isn't all bad:
1. There was enough water to launch.
2. My slip isn't close to shore.
3. The sailing was excellent.
4. My nagging desire for a bigger boat all but vanished.

[K.C. Walker]

4. My nagging desire for a bigger boat all but vanished.

I'm glad you had a good first sail! It is amazing how just getting out in my DaySailer does the same thing for my nagging desire for a different/bigger boat.

[brucybaby]

Ya just gotta love the Daysailer. I see a lot of full keel sailboats for sale around my neck of the woods these days with the record low water levels in the Great lakes and Lake St. Claire. I can drop my Daysailer into practically anything a duck can float in.

[jeadstx]

I've seen my share of low lake levels in central Texas the last couple of years. Lake Travis just west of Austin is only about 40% full at present, that's 50 feet below it's full level. No usable ramps left open on the lake. Fortunately for me I sail on Canyon Lake which is south of me. It is only down 9.5' and still has several ramps that are usable. A smaller, but more constant level lake.

John

[ChrisB]

3. The sailing was excellent.
4. My nagging desire for a bigger boat all but vanished.

I too had excellent sailing this past weekend. More wind than I would have preferred but I made do with a reefed main & jib. Found a few new (to me) sandbars in the Indian River Lagoon as well. Even dragged the rudder at one point (now that's shallow!)

Everytime I get that twinkle in my eye for a bigger boat I remind myself:

* my DS costs me about $40/year for registration of the boat and trailer
* the boat lives in my yard when not in use so I have no dock rent or storage
* it is (relatively) easy to rig and get on the water

I read somewhere that the best boat is the one you use. I see too many boats 25' and up that seldom leave their slips. My old DS gets wet on a regular basis.

[jeadstx]

My boats too live in the back yard when not in use. Often, larger boats that are kept at a dock or mooring sail only one lake. The DS can be easily moved around to be able to explore other waters.

John

[talbot]

An image of my boat (you have to look closely at the end of the dock), still the only occupant of a 200-slip marina.

This is what we call a drought in the Northwest.

--Talbot
--DS#6546

[Archie]

Well, I got a perfect first boat.