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First Time sailing

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starsailor
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/06/2007 : 10:48:14

Hello everyone, I have been lurking on here over a year absorbing as much as I can. I have had "Wind Angel" for 2 years now. My wife and I were able to take her on the California Delta this fall for 5 days. That was an adventure! I wrote the following about a year ago, with the intent to post it. I enjoy reading your stories so I thought that I would go ahead and share it.

First time sailing

On July, 3 2006 my son Joshua and his friend Brad and I decided to take the boat (a Catalina 250) to Millerton Lake, Fresno California. We arrived at the lake at around 1 pm. After setting up the mast which took us about 1 hr. We launched the boat. Everything went fine; the motor started and was idling just fine. We cast off the lines and began to back out of the launch dock. As fate would have it the engine died and would not restart.
Now this is the second time I have had the boat on the water. The first time we had just motored around the lake with no problems. The only difference this time was that I had refilled the gas tank. I tried the primer bulb but I could not feel any fuel flowing into it. Meanwhile the wave action and the slight breeze was pushing us back to the dock into the boat that was docked on the other side of the dock. I instructed my crew to keep us away from the boat.
I next heard a splash as my son jumped into the water and proceeded to swim the boat away rather then merely fending us off the boat with his hands. He told me he was hot and wanted to get wet anyways.
I continued to work with the motor until I determined that the fuel tank was vapor locked, not allowing fuel to get to the engine. I opened up the air vent on the gas tank and was soon rewarded with the engine starting. We motor across the lake at about 6 knots.
My son decided he wanted to get wet again. He grabbed a docking line and jumped into the water, as the line reeled out it was immediately pulled from his hand. I circled around and he asked for the line again so that he could be pulled behind the boat. He had a great time being hauled around. He finally tired of that and we pulled him aboard.
We went to a cove on the lake where I dropped anchor using my new XYZ anchor and chain. This was the first time I have used an anchor with chain attached. Well I did it wrong and the chain took a chip out of the gel coat. Next time, I will gather up the chain along with the anchor and hold the whole bundle over the edge and then let it go.
After going for a swim and then eating and resting for a while the boys got bored and wanted to go. So we began to motor back, my son asked about raising the sail. I was a little worried about it as I didn'tant to loose control of the boat. I decided that since we had a roller furled Jib that could be quickly rolled up if we got in trouble I would start with it. I had trouble remembering how to run the lines, which was another consideration in trying out the sails. It took us 3 separate try’s to finally get the lines right, in retrospect I still didn’t have it as I ran the mains through the line “clutches?” and then to the winches. We were soon scooting along at anywhere between 4 and 6 knots depending on the gusts of wind. I raised the engine and we were sailing!! Gosh, it was great. Soon we tried a few tacks. Then Josh asked about raising the main. So I had him take the helm and I started to raise the Main sail.
We discovered a problem; the main halyard had wedged itself into the slot in the mast. No amount of pulling would get it out. I knew that the life jackets I had purchased had a d ring on the front to allow you to lift MOB back into the boat. So I had my son put it on, how ever I soon discovered that it has no lower straps that go around the legs. So he put his legs through the arms and made a seat out of it. I then took the other halyard that is for a spinnaker (I think) and attached it to him. I then ran it to the winch and hauled him up. It worked great. He was able to get the rope at 90 Deg. to the slot and pull it out.
Once we had that done, I was able to attaché the halyard to the head of the main and raise the main sail. I think we gained maybe a knot in speed. One of the things I noticed was that we were subject to more heeling. I think in retrospect that the problem was of my own doing. I knew the dangers of “Jibbing” so I wanted to control that and thus kept the main sheet tight or as I have since learned “ close hauled” I think that term applies here. I also had the topping lift set to high so the sail didn’t hang right on the boom. Well needless to say, it was a kick; this was why I had bought the boat.
When we got close to the area in front of the dam I decided it was time to turn around and head down wind. As soon as I tried to come about the boat started heeling over and it seemed as I had no control of the boat. So I took the jib down and was then able to get the boat to come about in a controlled manner. Once we had come about we raised the jib again and once more we were off sailing. This time we all noticed how quite it was and it seemed that we were going slower even though the knot meter said we were traveling at 5 to 6 knots.
We sailed back towards the dock and finally had to take the sails down in order to prepare the boat to load it back on the trailer.
We all agreed that it had been a fine day, Josh’s friend Brad said we could invite him to join us anytime.
One thing the day confirmed for me was that I needed to take some lessons. Its one thing to read about sailing it was another to know what you’re doing and when to do it. In retrospect I had not fully raised the main as it was not all the way to the top of the mast. It was as high as I could get it using only my body weight and strength. I later remembered or figured out that I was supposed to run that halyard back through the starboard side clutch and then to the winch in order to use the winch to raise the sail all the way to the top. This would also allow me to release the clutch and drop the sail from the cockpit rather the having to go to the bottom of the mast to release it.
This was complicated by the fact the owners manual does not have a basic set up drawing of the lines included. It shows you where all the blocks and tackle go but not how the lines should run through them. When I picked up the boat at the dealership they did show me and I retained enough to know it wasn’t right after some thought, but not enough to get it right the first time.
During one of my boat show excursions, I had talked to the Sailtime people out of Monterey and left them my email. They sent me an invitation which included an advertisement for an introductory class to keelboat sailing. I took the opportunity to call them but they were booked for Saturday, however they made arrangement for me for Friday morning. I don’t recall what type of boat it was. I think it was around 19 feet with a hanked on jib. I met Warren who quickly got us out on the water. It was an over cast morning with some fog on the water but the temperature was perfect for a light jacket. There was a slight breeze that got stronger as we went out further past the breakwater.
Warren took the time to show me how the sails were supposed to look when properly trimmed and the different points of sailing. He also showed me the difference between a jib and a tack. This explained the difficulties I had when turning my boat off a tack to a jib, rather turning through the wind I had turned away from the wind.
David

Edited by - on

SEAN
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
772 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 11:14:36

Sounds like your doin it !!

it only gets better .

See if you could get lessons on your boat ,sometimes the instructors will give you a lesson on the side ,on your own boat .ask for their card

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 11:32:44

David,
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for the posting. I love to read about others sailing experiences.

It's great to see you had fun through your "learning curve". Basic sailing is probably the simplest of any method of transportation beyond walking. I know, there are highly technical nuances that make it faster, safer, more efficient, etc., but getting from point A to point B on a sailboat is really nothing more than putting a bedsheet on a stick and letting the wind push it. The trick is coming back home again.

Like any skill, however, it is one that must be learned. We don't do it instinctively. Everyone on this forum started the same way, we didn't have a clue. But, we learned. Most didn't have the courage you showed by just pushing away from the slip without a teacher, however. Congratulations!

Minor point on terms: A jib is a sail. A jibe (or gybe) is a maneuver in which one turns allowing the wind to pass abaft the sails as opposed to a tack in which the bow of the boat passes through the wind. Tacking is, generally, a safer maneuver but, controlled gybing is also safe and sometimes necessary. It's the uncontrolled gybe while running downwind that one should guard against.

I'm looking forward to the next installment. Tell us about this year's trip to the delta.

Edited by - on

piseas
Former Treasurer

Members Avatar

USA
2017 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 13:29:12

David, Welcome aboard. There is nothing like sailing. Dont ever quit and keep your family involved. See you out there.
Steve

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 13:54:53

Welcome! You're getting it! ...and keep that vent open when motoring--close it when you're done.

Edited by - on

Mike013
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
64 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 14:25:46

David,

Welcome to the forum. I have a Catalina 250 berthed at Millerton Lake. We’re the last one on “C” dock. I say that because there is another 250 berthed on “C” dock. If you are ever in the area stop by and say hello. See Stan at the Marina Office and he can probably get us connected. The lake is kind of low right now but hopefully it will start filling soon.

Mike

Edited by - on

starsailor
Deckhand

Members Avatar

USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 14:47:31

HI Mike
I will look for you, its kinda interesting you have hull #859 and I have #851 2006. I only went to millerton twice this year. I really like Huntington. but for a short travel,daysail millerton is great. It's a blast when that evening breeze gets going and really move the boat along. I envy you having a slip and not haveing to rerigg your boat. I just didnt like the lake rules about not sleeping on the boat in the slip. I may just have to accept them and slip the boat anyway.
Hi Dave Bristle, I have learned to check that vent as it seems to vibrate itself closed. I found this out on the delta trip.
Hi John Russell, thanks for the gybe lesson. As to pushing away I have a lot of powerboat experience and I figured if it got over my head I could always drop the sails and motor.
David

Edited by - on

Mike013
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
64 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 16:04:56

Dave,

Millerton Lake is located within a state park and the no sleeping on the boat thing is their rule. However, for a small fee you can boat camp. You sail out to a designated area and anchor there overnight. Are you water ballast or wing keel? “Ariel” is a wing keel and the launching and rigging thing can be tedious. I try and get out to the lake at least once a week if not more. Don’t worry about the learning curve. This forum has really helped me with the all the stuff I didn’t learn in the sailing classes I took.

Mike

Edited by - on

stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

1608 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 20:59:47

Good on ya for hoisting those sails. It seems like a lot of 'stuff' at first but the next time you sail, you'll have gotten over the mechanics of getting the sails up and advance to being more concerned about sail shape and tacking.

Having a lesson on your own boat is by far the best way to learn. We had an instructor on our boat our first time out, then again about a month later.

Have fun!

Edited by - on

johnsonp
Admiral

Members Avatar

USA
606 Posts

Response Posted - 11/06/2007 : 22:01:28

Starsailor

It seems you are on your way to becoming an experienced sailor.
You have sailed in the Delta you now know about navigation,current,tides and how to open bridges.
paulj

Edited by - on

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