The Pre-Launch Preparations
June 25, 2009 |
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And up she comes, like we know what
we're doing. (As Tommy at the boatyard is fond of saying, "This isn't
the first boat we've done"!) |
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The mast is raised for the 2009 season . . . |
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. . . but for a small problem -- before I could pin the
furler drum's shackle to the stem fitting, the mast started to go back
down! I yanked the furler and held fast before the mast was beyond control, held it
while Wally climbed back aboard to assist. |
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Three quarters of the launch crew, (left to right) Wally,
me atop the ladder, and Mike below. |
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The fourth member of the crew, Barbara the Official Event
Photographer, standing alongside the ladder. |
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We got the sails up and rigged, ready to go -- or so I
thought until later in the afternoon when I found the usual crossed
lines once thought perfectly arranged. |
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With the mast up and sails ready the crew was dismissed.
I spent the remainder of the day on the multitude of tweaks and
finishing touches. |
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Shortly before sunset, about 7:30 pm, everything was ready for launch on
tomorrow's 3 pm high tide. As I was leaving Riverhead Beach, the tide
was near dead low and falling. (Jun. 25, 2009) |
The Launch of Season 2009
June 26, 2009 |
How not to
launch your boat
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This guy just bought a new boat and decided
to take her for the maiden voyage. This was his first boat
and he wasn't quite sure of the exact procedures for launching it off a ramp, but figured it
couldn't be too hard.
He consulted
his local boat dealer for advice, but they just said “don't
let the trailer get too deep when you're trying to launch
the boat.” Well, he didn't know what they meant by that as
he could barely get the trailer in the water at all!
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When I got back to the ramp in the morning, the tide was
just about where I'd left it the evening before -- about 12 hours prior.
Funny how that works! (Jun. 26, 2009) |
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Today's weather forecast is for mostly sunny through late
morning, then a strong chance of showers and thunderstorms in the early
afternoon -- should just just in time for our planned 3 pm launch on the
tide. But tomorrow's forecast is the same, so it looks like we'll get
wet. Nothing new there this spring/summer so far. |
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I spent a few solitary hours on final touches. I adjusted the
shrouds with the Loos gauge: 28 on the uppers, 24 on the forward lowers,
20 on the aft lowers -- this season sort of a compromise from the
recommendations on the discussion group between racers and cruisers. After pinning them in place I tried starting the
outboard; it kicked right over, was good to go. I hoisted the radar
reflector and Chip Ahoy was ready to
launch, so I went back home to await the crew's 2 pm arrival. |
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The crew met again at my house before heading back down
to Riverhead Beach. At 2 pm the sky was overcast, the first of the
showers began sprinkling down. As he was coming along with me to Chip
Ahoy's mooring, before we left home I loaned Michael my spare foul weather
jacket -- the "large" size that I almost never use, fortunately for him.
My own "medium" size is kept aboard, when not being worn,
ready when needed. |
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At 3 pm as planned, we were ready to launch . . .
and the tide was where it needed to be. (Jun. 26, 2009) |
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It's never-ending ... but Sailing Season '09 has arrived! |
