Lovely First Sail!

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

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PenBaySailor
Posts: 8
Joined: Aug 9th, '05, 20:32
Location: 1976 Typhoon Weekender
Rockland, Maine

Lovely First Sail!

Post by PenBaySailor »

Well, it took two full weeks before we had the time together (my wife and I) to take our little vessel on a maiden voyage, but last Saturday, August 27th, we did just that. It was a near-perfect day, with bright blue skies, warm but not hot temps and a delightful and steady Southerly breeze blowing. We rowed out and made ready to cast off the mooring pendant. I hanked on the jib, raised sail, backed the main and we slipped off the mooring slick as you please. We sheeted in and made a picture-perfect beam reach out of the mooring field and straight past the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, out of the harbor and into Penobscot Bay.

This picture is of my friend's CD25, on our mooring, with the Breakwater Light in the distance to give you an idea of the setting.

Here's a shot of a small portion of Penobscot Bay, showing a few of the hundreds of the islands and coves that make it one of the premier gunkholing areas in the world.

God it was fine! SO nice to be on the water sailing again in our own little boat, for the first time in the new millennium! We tacked about a while, getting used to her and she to us. We made a nice downwind run wing & wing, then absolutely screamed (for a Ty) back into the harbor closehauled. Sailing back to the mooring was just as smooth as you please, I doused the jib and we headed her up dead into the wind to pick up the buoy. I figured she would shoot about six boat lengths given the wind and slacking tide ... and I swear, she stopped right at the mooring ball like she knew she was home! I turned to my wife (who was at the helm), smiled and said, "I think she likes us!"

What an absolutely wonderful little boat and what a perfect way to get acquainted. We can't wait for this rain and fog to lift tomorrow so we can go back out, this time for the whole day!

Nick, thanks again mate ... she's found a loving home.

Best to all,

Paddy
Guest

Post by Guest »

What a beautiful -- and beautifully written -- message!
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bhartley
Posts: 449
Joined: Aug 23rd, '05, 09:26
Location: Sea Sprite #527 "Ariel"
CD25D #184 "Pyxis"

CDSOA Member #785

Congratulations!

Post by bhartley »

Paddy,

Sounds like a divine day for a sail! So glad you finally got to try her out.

Wishing you many more equally enjoyable sails,

Bly
Oswego John
Posts: 3535
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 20:42
Location: '66 Typhoon "Grace", Hull # 42, Schooner "Ontario", CD 85D Hull #1

Lovely First Sail

Post by Oswego John »

Paddy,

What a great story and pictures. I really enjoyed your tale. Hope you send some more to us.

O J
"If I rest, I rust"
Voting Member #490
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Nick Price
Posts: 19
Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 02:40
Location: Typhoon daysailer 55, "Pattie-B Too".
Contact:

About Time!

Post by Nick Price »

Paddy,
I've been waiting for this post but it was worth the wait! So glad you're happy with your new Ty.
All the best to you and Susan.
Nick
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Joe Myerson
Posts: 2216
Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 11:22
Location: s/v Creme Brulee, CD 25D, Hull #80, Squeteague Harbor, MA

What a fine first sail!

Post by Joe Myerson »

Paddy,
Congratulations on a beautiful boat, beautiful waters to sail her in—and on writing a beautiful posting!

Thanks and happy sailing,

--Joe Myerson
Christian Sava
Posts: 36
Joined: Aug 8th, '05, 21:19
Location: "Sea Clef"
Typhoon weekender (1973) #506
Newburyport, MA

Post by Christian Sava »

Paddy,
Congrats on your new 'baby' and in being able to sail her as she was meant and designed to be. On and off the mooring. I find that sailing on and off of my mooring is the only way to go. I have a rather unsightly and unreliable 2hp Johnson that I keep below and rarely mount on the bracket. Even with a strong and gusty wind, such as yesterday on the Merrimac, and under reefed main singlehanded she is a dream and very predictable. I wish you many more days just like that!

Happy sailing!
Christian Sava
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SeaBelle
Posts: 257
Joined: Feb 11th, '05, 07:31
Location: CD28
Sea Belle
Hail port: Rockland, ME

Dreams come true.

Post by SeaBelle »

Ah Paddy what a brilliant story. Now those dreams can become real.

One could sail a lifetime in p-bay and not exhaust it. One of my favorites is Merchants Row. McClathery I. is nice as is Saddleback I. At Saddleback there is a tidal pool; I float the dink in and harvest mussels and steam them in the lobster pot- delicious. The lobster pot is always aboard. I often sail near a lobsterman pulling pots and hold the pot aloft signaling that I'd like to buy lobsters. If he waves me over I negotiate price and buy fresh lobster. The negotiation is easy - I pay what he asks. They are most often fair and I always remember they are closer that the Coast Guard and by my lights I'm sailing in their waters.
Sail on,
Jack
CD28 Sea Belle
Hailport - Rockland, ME

There are old sailors and bold sailors, but there are no old, bold sailors.

Reef early and often. It's easier to shake out a reef when one is bored than it is to tuck one in when one is scared.

When your only tool is a hammer, all your problems look like nails.
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rtbates
Posts: 1149
Joined: Aug 18th, '05, 14:09
Location: 1984 25D #161

congratulations

Post by rtbates »

Sounds like you're having a good time with your CD. Wonderful.
I really like your links to the pictures as well as your story

randy 25D Seraph #161
Neil Gordon
Posts: 4367
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
Contact:

Re: Dreams come true.

Post by Neil Gordon »

[quote="SeaBelle"]One could sail a lifetime in p-bay and not exhaust it./quote]

Pond I. Every stone you ever skipped as a kid ended up on the beach there!
Fair winds, Neil

s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA

CDSOA member #698
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SeaBelle
Posts: 257
Joined: Feb 11th, '05, 07:31
Location: CD28
Sea Belle
Hail port: Rockland, ME

Pond I.

Post by SeaBelle »

Neil,

Are you refering to the Pond I. near the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula? I heard good things about it (and that it has a rocky bottom unsuitable for overnight anchor in weather). If not, where is yours?
Sail on,
Jack
CD28 Sea Belle
Hailport - Rockland, ME

There are old sailors and bold sailors, but there are no old, bold sailors.

Reef early and often. It's easier to shake out a reef when one is bored than it is to tuck one in when one is scared.

When your only tool is a hammer, all your problems look like nails.
Neil Gordon
Posts: 4367
Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
Contact:

Re: Pond I.

Post by Neil Gordon »

SeaBelle wrote:Are you refering to the Pond I. near the tip of the Schoodic Peninsula??
North of Swans I. The bottom there is mud/hard mud.
Fair winds, Neil

s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA

CDSOA member #698
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