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Main Message Board / The Unexpectedly Perfect Sail
« on: November 23, 2020, 10:26:39 AM »
Some of my most memorable sail days have just come out of the blue. One in particular, maybe my best, comes to mind. It didn't start out that way, it just happened. I was taking Top Gun to Avalon for a week to meet family and friends. It's about a 4 1/2hr trip and a couple of friends volunteered to go with me to help out and keep me company.
The trip didn't start well, first the friends flaked out so I'd be singling over, next I had to leave early, which in these parts means no wind, so I'd have to motor all the way. Since the idea was just to get the boat over there neither would be much of a problem, but it certainly wouldn't be much fun.
I departed my slip assuming I'd be motoring all the way as I've done many times before. As I cleared the harbor an unusual breeze kicked up from nowhere. I thought fine, it won't last long but I rolled out the jib to take advantage of it and do a little motor sailing. Strangely the breeze held and actually freshened to 15 to 20 knots, I thought what the hell so up went the main and off went the motor, I'll enjoy it while it lasts, plus the sails were making a knot and a half on the motor. I didn't drop the sails until I arrived in Avalon.
It was a fast trip(under 4hrs) and a smooth trip. At a certain point I shut off the auto pilot so I could sit high side and hand steer the boat, fully enjoying the sensations of a boat flying along in perfect conditions. Sadly, all too soon I arrived at my destination.
While I've had many great sail days I've never repeated this one, that was about 25yrs ago. Maybe that's why I've kept my boat for so long, because while I've never repeated that memorable sail, there's always the possibility that I might.
The trip didn't start well, first the friends flaked out so I'd be singling over, next I had to leave early, which in these parts means no wind, so I'd have to motor all the way. Since the idea was just to get the boat over there neither would be much of a problem, but it certainly wouldn't be much fun.
I departed my slip assuming I'd be motoring all the way as I've done many times before. As I cleared the harbor an unusual breeze kicked up from nowhere. I thought fine, it won't last long but I rolled out the jib to take advantage of it and do a little motor sailing. Strangely the breeze held and actually freshened to 15 to 20 knots, I thought what the hell so up went the main and off went the motor, I'll enjoy it while it lasts, plus the sails were making a knot and a half on the motor. I didn't drop the sails until I arrived in Avalon.
It was a fast trip(under 4hrs) and a smooth trip. At a certain point I shut off the auto pilot so I could sit high side and hand steer the boat, fully enjoying the sensations of a boat flying along in perfect conditions. Sadly, all too soon I arrived at my destination.
While I've had many great sail days I've never repeated this one, that was about 25yrs ago. Maybe that's why I've kept my boat for so long, because while I've never repeated that memorable sail, there's always the possibility that I might.