Interesting time on the Sound (long)

[Stump]

So, The wife and I were going to Blake Island State Park for an overnight on Saturday, nice day, steady wind from the South at about 10 knots, Only problem I was having was the last time I repaired the steering I must know have done it wrong because it was reversed and once again I couldn't turn to starboard and ended up with a rope in my rudder and pulling like heck to get it to turn.

But seeing how I was over half way there I decided to carry on. I figured I had about 3-4 more tacks to make it to the island when suddenly I had nothing but problems, I'd try to tack and end up going in circles happened 2 or 3 times. Finally got pointed in the right direction but something still wasn't right. My jib kept filling from one side of the boat to the other. I was heading SSE at the time, winds variable. :?

Suddenly, out of the north I was slammed with a wind of about 20-30 knots. The boat swung to the west and began to heel hard over, gunnel underwater and half the side deck under. boom swung to the lee side. I released line and the boom pegged against the port, aft stay. My hat the wife was wearing gets plucked off her head and goes into the water, I scandalize the main, get the boat pointed into the wind and the waves begin to pickup. :shock: :?

I'm fighting to keep her pointed into the wind so I can drop the sails and the wife asks if I could turn the boat to get the hat. I told her to forget the hat and get in the center of the boat. I got the jib down with a down-haul which helped stabilize things then dropped the main. After securing the main I drop my little electric and start motoring to the harbor on the island. Wind is still screaming from the north, temperature dropped and the waves were about 4-5 feet. :shock:

About this time I have enough time to look around and see that the coast guard is flying around checking on all the boats in the area. It appeared that we all got our sails down and no one went over.

I get to the marina and find a place to moor. Talking with several people there they said that there was no warning of the front that came though. I said yeah, caught me by surprise and I had to drop my sails, They looked at me, then they looked at my boat, then back at me, and said "you were out in that?" I told them that I was. For some reason that was a conversation stopper.

Now, we were by far the smallest boat in the marina and it was cool

8) 8) The boat was a real conversation starter. Didn't hurt my pride at all :roll: :roll:

Slept on the boat during the night and the adventure continued.

About midnight we were boarded by bandits :shock: and ROBBED :x :x

We had moved most things into cockpit so we would have room to sleep. Little tight since I'm not on the small side but fine and was snoring away when I heard a crash on deck. My wife popped open the hatch and said some animal was dragging a bag away. I came out and chased after the beast, scaring the racoon away from the french bread and other items still in the bag. I tore off the end of the bread that contained racoon spit and left that, taking the rest back with me. The thief ran back down the dock and grabbed the left bread and took off. The wife took the bread and bag into the cabin and since I was up, I hiked to the facilities :oops:

While I was gone the thief returned. My wife once again heard sounds on deck and she sat up, face to face with the intruder who was looking into the cabin to find some more of the bread that he could still smell. She eeked, he eeked :shock: :shock: and both fell back in opposite directions.

It was a pleasant night so on the way back I sat on a bench and looked at the City across the Sound little knowing of the drama occurring onboard.

While sitting there I saw a mother racoon and 3 kits come off the dock and head back to the woods and then a pair of racoons leave the dock and head towards the rocks. Meanwhile, several deer were nibbling on the grass. 8) 8)

When I got back I was informed of my wifes' close encounter of the rat faced kind. I rearranged the stowing of the food, sealing the smelly items into the cooler and we were undisturbed the rest of the night.

The next day everyone at the marina was talking about being visited by racoons and the muddy footprints left on their $100,000.00 plastic boats :wink: :wink:

In the morning we stowed everything into the cabin again and I fixed the steering yet again. (I think I got it this time. Worked great all the way back :oops: )

Wind fairly steady from the south at about 10 knots, sometimes gusting a little higher. Fun

All in all a good trip and a great learning experience!!

Did I mention that the Weekender is a GREAT little boat? 8) 8)

[Mike Pennington]

Great story, thanks for sharing your adventure. Trips like yours are what keeps the blood pumping.

I have come to the point of checking the rudder and steering mechanism before every trip. Why? :shock: :oops:

I even installed a flush oarlock off the stern for those emergencies that can occure.

I sure love the overnight trips, sailing into a quite cove, early morning breakfast and the hot cocoa. :wink: Then off with the wind for a sail.

Mike

[Guest]

WOW, this weekend was filled with simular events, including two hats lost at sea for us, dollar ones though, thank goodness. 8) Life is full of adventure, isn't it. Thanks!!!!

[Craig]

Fun aint't it? I didn't loose a hat this time out...

[Joe Sundstrom]

An easy destination with small children.

Me and the fam used to show up at the Chittendam locks at about midnight for our weekend excursions.

Our boat was so small that i usually had to get out and walk to the lockmaster's office to get their attention.

[umop_apisdn]

About midnight we were boarded by bandits :shock: and ROBBED :x :x

I can highly recommend a bear cannister from your local REI or similar outfitter. Very handy to keep unwanted visitors out of your food. Not only are they very sturdy, they are round, so don't give animals anything to grab onto to drag them off.

Also, about sleeping in the boat... were you beached? or moored? If beached, how do you level the boat? If moored, how did the little buggers get out to you?

[rolandblais]

Only problem I was having was the last time I repaired the steering I must know have done it wrong because it was reversed and once again I couldn't turn to starboard and ended up with a rope in my rudder and pulling like heck to get it to turn.

Rudder-->Starboard block-->2 wraps 'round steering shaft, then through steering shaft, then tied, then 2 more wraps-->Port block-->Rudder.

Seems to work just fine, but I've only had her in moderate winds so far.

Peace,

Roland