great wind - wife abuse

Posted By: Brian N. P165 "peptide"
Date: 7/14/08 7:25a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Too much wind (Bob Slatter P18 John Boy)

I sailed yesterday with my wife and younger son (7) on my boat and my daughter was on a friends' boat (Rhodes 22). Winds were 15-20 and My wife had some trouble holding her into the wind as I raised the main. Well a momentary lapse of reason on my part, and the halyard was up the mast. My friend rafted up next to us and with the help of a very long boat hook, we were able to get the halyard. I sailed on the full main alone, reaching 5.2 knots on the GPS. I could have reefed and raised the jib, but I enjoyed the unobstructed view and the high pointing. The wind kept up all day and we motored into the channel. Now the current was contrary to the tide and I decided that I will dock with the current pushing us into the dock, wind away. I cut the motor a tad too soon and the wind at this point overtook the current and pushed us away from the dock. My wife made a leap of faith - and dunk in she went- Fortunately she only had a minor scrape. About a minute later a power boat followed us in, did the same maneuver, and dunk, in went his wife. We all had a good laugh, including the two wives. My friend on the Rhodes came in and gave me a lesson on docking in difficult conditions. All in all a good day