After 80 days of hard work and frustration we finally took Gitana out for her first sail.
It was not a very pleasant experience. After all of my hard, and very dirty work, the non-tailing winch didn't do much good when I hosted the mailsail (yes, I did it all by myself) because the cleats, every last one of them on the boat, were installed backwards and we hadn't noticed. The tiller is very far forward and almost reaches the companionway, making it very difficult to steer and raise the main at the same time. Physics: two objects (knees and tiller) cannot occupy the same space at the same time. Additionally, the tiller extension wouldn't lock in the tiller and kept falling out. The foam sleeve on the extension was degraded to the point of crumbling and was unpleasant to hold.
We had waited for the high winds that we had been experiencing, gusts up to 45, to drop off before taking Gitana out. We should have waited one more day. I had a hellaofatime trying to keep her upright. I told Greg that in higher winds I wouldn't even be able to move the tiller. Cinnamon was terrified! A one point the headsail sheet was wrapped around his hind leg and Greg was pulling, not having noticed the potential for amputation.
After less that an hour we came back to the marina and attempted to back in. Fortunately for us, because it was hopeless, there were four guys who willing jumped in to assist us. After much pulling they managed to get her in line and pulled in. I was in an "unhappy" mood after my first sail and said an unkind thing about my little boat - which I will not repeat. Those four guys beat a hasty retreat and one said over his shoulder "but it's a pretty boat".
Leaving Marina San Carlos at 10:30 am
When we got back and I had settled down a bit Greg asked me to list the things that had made me "unhappy". He was worried that I might do something rash. After I listed them, he promptly remedied all but one.
The next morning, today, the sun shone and the winds were calmer. After checking out the San Carlos flea market and a yard sale, we readied Gitana for her second sail. It's a nice 80 degree day with not a cloud in the sky. A beautiful day for a sail. I had high hopes. I really didn't want a repeat of the previous day.
Looking back on Bahia San Carlos, the mooring ground, with the condos in the back.
Greg stated (not suggested) that I take the boat out of the slip, while he moved our dinghy, and come back along the dock to pick him up. I had serious reservations about this maneuver, but I did it. I managed quite easily to get back to the dock but we had some difficulty getting away because of my brain's difficulty in shifting from wheel to tiller and a new shifter setup. We finally managed and Greg watched me closely for another "unhappy" mood. Everything seemed much better this time. It was actually pleasant. The physics issue was still a problem but Greg got the main up and I didn't cripple him. The the furling headsail was let out. Still everything was going well. We were aways off shore in a really nice breeze. Now that the tiller extension worked I felt much more comfortable at the helm. In 80 degrees we actually started to feel cold and had to get more clothes.
This time Cinnamon was much more relaxed. He's not dead and he's not looking down the winch handle box; he took up his favorite position next to the bulkhead and feel asleep.
Greg got the chart plotter working and noted that we were doing over 5 knots. We were on a southern course that would have taken us right to Bahia Conception - very tempting. We decided to head back to the Bahia though. There is a great little cove called Martini Cove just as you head back in. It's just big enough for two small boats.
Heading back into Bahia San Carlos
The first glimpse of Martini Cove from the outside.
Martini Cove
Some people aren't afraid of color.
This purple house with red railings has a turquoise roof.
Greg tried to master motoring backwards and discovered that no matter where the tiller is Gitana just goes in circles. That explained why we were having so much trouble backing into our slip.
When we got back to the marina Greg tried to back in despite our new discovery and lo and behold, he did it. Our neighbor came out and very timidly asked if we needed help (he was afraid of catching shrapnel as had happen yesterday). We were happy to have the help and told him of our pleasant sail. He was relieved. He said that he had thought that he might see a "FOR SALE" sign on Gitana when he came out this morning. No, I'm gona keep her, I told him.
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