Sailing the great green sea…

As I mentioned in the last post, we didn’t know how to sail. But, over Labor Day 2012 weekend we became experts at “sailing” in the backyard.

Anyone who has a boat knows that it is more maintenance than sea time. So we decided last fall that we first needed to check her out, bow to stern. First, order of business, how do we raise the mast. YouTube was a big help, but in the end we need to construct a gin pole to provide stability and leverage to haul a 20 foot pole in the air.

There were a number of ‘trial runs’ with this device, both in design and use. Ultimately we learned, that in this case, faster was better.

Then the next issue; the jib furler. No matter what we did we could not attach it to the bow. And we were pretty sure that this arrangement was a BAD idea.
We eventually got it. The trick here, one we’ve not yet forgotten (but I’m writing it here as a “note to self”), loosen the backstay. Now that sounds foolhardy, after all its the one thing exhibiting any control over this drunken metal pole that we have NO ability to hang on to or control. (This is where cranking fast comes into play). It is the only way to ease the tension enough for the jib furler to attach to the bow is by giving it enough lead to be pulled down. THEN you tighten the backstay again.

Even after accomplishing this feat over 6 days and 4 weeks, we agreed that the Great Sacandaga Reservior was already WAAAY too low for newbies to venture upon without training.

For anyone who doesn’t know, Sacandaga Lake is a reservior that was constructed in the 1920’s to regulated the flow of the Hudson River to prevent the flooding of New York City. Spring runoff and rains rush down and fill up the lake in May and slowly over the summer the water is out. How much water is left after Labor Day changes year to year.

http://www.sacandaga.net – some recent and historic images
http://www.sacandagalife.com/the-great-sacandaga-lake-a-history/
http://image.iarchives.nysed.gov/images/EHImages/71562.PDF – maps and plans of the proposed river valley and project

The real issue, however, is the lake bottom. The Sacandaga was originally a valley, full of farms, villages, houses, and trees. Buildings were moved, as were cemeteries, but a lot of the infrastructure, especially rock walls and foundations were left in place. When the lake is let out, some of those features become visible. More dangerous, though, are the things you can’t see. I remember a story told by a friend, of another friend, who sailed out from the public launch at Northampton beach with no issue, when when he motored back in he went through a doorway opening and got stuck inside a foundation.

It was best we stayed home until we knew more. So, we buttoned her up for the winter and spent the time thinking, ordering stuff we needed, and signing up for sailing lessons we so would be ready come May to start our on-water adventure.

Stay tuned…

Where we started…

Today is June 20, 2013 and there is some catching up to do before we can talk about the present day.

I know when the idea of adding a sailboat to our lives became a serious idea, but I’m not sure when the dream of it started.  We’d both learned to sail Sunfish in Scouts.  Later, Lance chose the “low” seas of submarine service in the Navy while Barb watched the sun set over Lake Ontario from her dorm room.  Scuba diving was next, 2006 for Barb and 2009 for Lance.  I’m guessing it became a future dream around the time this picture was taken; back in our skinny days.

But family obligations and financial hurdles had to be met first, so it remained an oft talked about day-dream.  A what if. A retirement plan. A boat show visit. An Internet search.  Until last spring. For whatever crazy reason, logic was thrown aside by both of us and we started shopping, real shopping. The kind where you call marinas, schedule visits, talk to brokers, stop by the side of the road to get out and look at “For Sale By Owner” models.  And we agreed after a few whirlwind days that it was scary and still too expensive.  Then August happened.  It think it was another Internet window shopping experience on CraigList when Lance found her.  “Repose” was her name then, not that we knew that.  She was located 15 minutes from Lance’s employer. She was beautiful.  Neat. Clean. Looked new. Came with a trailer. And an outboard.  Ready to sail.

So we girded our loins and took the plunge.  Then the only problem was, we don’t know how to sail…