New Launch

Posted By: atrometer
Date: 1/22/12 5:34p.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

Well we picked today to launch our "new to us" M15 #227 "Saffron"for the first time. For those who had asked previously, I backed down the ramp and the rear tires of our Jeep Liberty 2WD were only about 2' from the water's edge, and with a little push Saffron floated right off. I had only started the 2 cycle 2.5 Merc VERY briefly at home in a bucket of water right after we got her, so naturally it took too long to start, but start it did - ran fine. We put up the mast on land but of course there was no wind, so we had left the sails stored below. We pulled away from the dock and headed home, using our new Garmin GPS Map handheld. We were making 5.0 - 5.8 MPH @ about 1/2 throttle(the 5.8 was on incoming tide going up river), for 45 minutes. We pulled into the small creek from the river and I felt the Ida Sailor rudder "kick up" just a little - board was down, but no problem. We chugged up the creek to our small marina, turned around on a dime, coasted in to the dock. Of coures just before making the turn toward the creek, the breeze had picked up nicely - BUT we had a great day on the water in a VERY nice boat. If the wind is good tomorrow, we're going sailing! YAYYYYY!!!!