It has been two months since I finished the boat (is it ever really finished?). Timing, holidays, sickness, cold weather, schedules, etc. derailed any attempt to launch the boat until now.
I have been on the search for a suitable day, one that I hoped would be reasonbly warm, sunny, light wind and one in which my family could participate. My birthday loomed large. Forecast was decent: rain in the morning giving way to mostly cloudy skies with temps in the upper 60's. A Tuesday would exclude Tara and crew but that idea was sinking on my list of suitable days. Did they really care that much anyway?
So what better day to launch? I set out to make it happen. I prepped as much in advance as I could (more on this story coming in a latter post) including new tires on the trailer and came home early from church. The sun was peeking out and it looked like it might be fairly sunny which was good.
Here is Disciple Ship ready to go. Pretty - ain't she?
At the ramp getting ready to rig the boat. Rigging went very smoothly. I took my time. I didn't actually time it but take down took 30 minutes. That time will improve with practice.
I tied a rope to the bow and, after putting her in the water, gave the boat a shove toward the dock. With the lake at winter pool, it was a short distance to the dock. Here I am getting things ready to shove off. That's a 5 gallon bucket I took as a bailer. It's too big! Got to come up with something else. The pitcher I used on Little Bit should do.
I'm off. I wanted to get a little distance between me and the dock before hoisting the mainsail. What little wind there was seemed to be blowing out but I didn't want to chance winding up on the rocks my first outing.
Raising the mainsail proved to be a little bit of a challenge. And the lazyjacks halyard got jammed. I'm wondering if the lazyjacks setup is interferring with the main halyard. I'm going to take it off before the next sail and see if it does any better. Below you can see here with full sail deployed! That's one big mainsail! She's luffing a bit here. Not much wind and I'm trying to get her on a tack. When I did get a good puff, that mainsail filled and looked absolutely beautiful.
A little closer. Oops! Forgot to get in my fenders. Bad form, but I had a lot on my mind.
After tacking around a bit, I doused the sail and rowed back in. Here I've turned around so I can see the ramp and make a soft landing.
Successful first launch!
Disciple Ship at rest. Good girl!
I believe she is going to be a fun boat. I felt very comfortable out there. I won't be quite so nervous the next time out. Can hardly wait!
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