Sailing September 2010

Septermber 5, 2010

Labor Day weekend and fall is in the air in Ohio. It turned cooler and more breezy this weekend. John, Matthew & I went out today for a short time this afternoon. We got down the lake in a hurry and were tacking our way back toward the dock when we hit something that knocked the rudder off the back of the boat. So we hauled the rudder and tiller aboard, fired up the engine, turned into the wind, dropped the sails and headed for the dock.

I rather think now that the knocks we heard last weekend were probably just us hitting the same something. We were in about the same location. So I think its good news that the dagger board is probably OK. The bad news is I need to get a depth finder and/or a GPS if I'm going to continue sailing this boat on this lake. There are just too many obstacles to keep track of. The lake is getting smaller and smaller as I have areas I have to avoid.

The weather really was remarkable. Sixty-nine degrees and breezy, with bright sunny skies. I don't think you could have ordered better weather.

There was a guy pulling his sail boat out at the ramp. I guess its sort of the traditional thing to do on Labor Day weekend in Ohio. But there are four, maybe six weeks of good sailing left, unless it turns rainy. I have to confess, that I'm getting anxious to pull the boat out and not have to worry about it any more. It will be a relief to have it back in the garage so I don't have to worry about it. Really nothing has happened - I was very pleasantly surprised at how clean the rudder is. Its been in the water all summer and hardly has a film on it. The anti-fouling paint has really done its job. I'm very pleased at that, and hope the bottom of the boat it in such good shape.

September 5, 2010

Went sailing with John and Matthew. It was a beautiful day and a decent wind, but it didn't last long as we hit something in the lake and knocked the rudder off the boat. We hauled it aboard, fired up the motor, truned into the wind, dropped the sails and headed for the dock. I fixed the rudder the next weekend

September 16, 2010

I sold, actually traded the S2 for a different boat. The new boat is a 1986 O'day 192. Marcin, the new owner was looking for a bigger boat and with more sailing features. The S2 met his fancy, and I think the O'Day will make it possible for me to set up the boat and sail it by myself.

September 17, 2010

This was my last time at the helm of the S2 - from the dock to the boat ramp to put her on the trailer for the new owners. She looks a little awkward with a bare mast, but she handled just fine under power. It was a beautiful day and we got the swap done pretty quickly, thanks to the help of Greg & Macin, the new owners.