On Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:36:07 -0500, cavelamb
wrote:

Gogarty wrote:
In article ,
says...
For better or worst, for richer or poorer, it's a done deal.

While some of our gentle readers will think it somewhat pathetic,
that was the biggest check I've ever written.

But she's completely paid for - no mortgage - all mine now.
No mortgage burning party to look forward to - and couldn't afford
on right now anyway.


All documents were notarized.
Also got bills of sale and documentation papers all the way back to
the first owner (I'm third).

And the original builders certificate.

One step closer to the coast...

In the mean time, we've 98,000 acres of lake water to shake down in.

Congratulations! Have the party. Perhaps no mortgage to burn but it is
still an event worth celebrating with friends and something potent
spilled.


We went out for a couple of hours this evening.

What fun! the autopilot even WORKS!
I havent' dug into the slave-to-GPS mode yet.
Just set the heading and let go.
(and watched it like a hawk for a while)
Pretty cool.
It's like having another crew member - who doesn't drink beer even.
Dorothy wants to name it.
(from Sailing Alone Around the World - did we ever know the name of
the navigator of the Pinta???)


But I did have a couple of heart in the throat moments coming back in.

The pier where I dock is fairly tight (ok, I wouldn't give it a moments
pause in my old Capri 18 (what a handy little ship) but this thing is
bugger, heavier, and has a wing rather than a fin.)

At low speeds, the boat doesn't want to turn real tight, and the wind was
blowing 12 to 15 straight out of the slip. And once it loses steerage it
takes a while to get going again...
Did I mention the wind blowing 12 to 15 straight out of the slip???

There are a bunch of huge power boats behind me (two boat lengths?!!?) and
a shallow mud flat to port (75 feet away?).

Both of which conspired to more attention that I thought was necessary.

Well, we made it in - second try - after a couple of deep gulps.

Just learnin' her ways...


Richard

Headwind going into the slip is generally the most favorable
situation. You can come in faster, because the wind will help stop the
boat. Crosswind and tailwind both push the boat in ways that make
things much harder.