Contemplating a Sail

[crazycarl]

I've been driving 24 miles round trip 3 times a day to let a friends dog out while his wife is in the hospital.(the friends wife, the dog is not currently in a relationship). After 4 days it finally occurred me to just bring the dog home. So here I am in the yard with this dog looking out at the water and wondering, has he ever gone sailing? Joan will be home from grocery shopping so after I bring them inside for her, this dog and I are going go do some pirate sheet.

[crazycarl]

The dog didn't want to go on the dock. I had to carry him. It's not like he's never seen water. My friends house sits on a lake. After carrying the dog onto the boat, we set sail for the river. The wind was coming out of the south, west, east, and north. I've never seen it so confused. We would be sailing on a starboard tack, pass a point, and suddenly it's on our nose. Adjust course and 100 yards later the wind is astern. Forget about watching the water. The wind never touched it. Smooth as glass. The windex? It was almost spinning. When we finally reached the bridge, the water looked as if a large power boat had just sped past. The waves were coming in from the river and smashing into the waves coming off Smith creek. Flags ashore were pointing in all directions. It was as if we were in a washing machine. I hadn't seen water like this since the last day of the 2011 Florida 120. No way we were going sail under the bridge in this mess, and once I raise sails, the motor doesn't come into play so it's back the way we came. Sailing back was worse. Not only did I see flags flying in all directions, but the wind would suddenly stop, and then roar down the creek, slam into the main and violently heel the boat. Rather than cleat the jib sheet, it was easier, and safer, to just hang on to it. We made it back dodging crab pots, moored sailboats and an anchored Monk 36 from Canada. I decided to drop sails before entering the cove and it was a smart decision. The wind died just outside our cove and as we approached the dock, it began howling again. The wind pushed the bow into the Seidelmann and the anchor made a horrible "crunch" against its starboard hull. Luckily that boat is a tank and only a silver mark was left. The dog started the sail laying at my feet, a bit unnerved at being "at sea". Then he made my lap his seat until he heard the traffic crossing the bridge. Recognizing the sound of traffic, he jumped onto the cockpit seat and stood watching and smelling the air. Back on land I swear I saw him kiss the ground. He may be a dog, but he ain't no "salty dog".

[brackish]

A bit like my current world which took a while to get used to.  My early sailing was done on the Mississippi Sound which is kind of like a huge, open lake protected by the barrier islands which were 5-10 miles out.  So good steady directional wind with no large open sea rollers.  One can get spoiled by setting up a beam reach and just not touching anything for miles.

Now I'm on Bay Springs lake, a part of the Tenn/Tom.  It is a very deep lake about 8 miles long but only about a mile wide at its widest, with a spiderweb of creeks feeding into a dozen or so fingers each side.  With relatively high banks there is no telling where the wind will come from when you pass by those fingers.  I've kinda gotten used to anticipating, observation and action when doing that but only after dozens of unplanned jibes. Also I learned that you can't do those long tacks coming about close to the banks as the wind might depower right when you need it most.  I miss those old set and forget days.

Had a lot of dogs that loved the beach but none wanted to get on any boat I've owned.

[passagesfromtheheart]

Carl, that was a very interesting read -- had me on the edge of my seat there a bit, gotta say! That is so nice that you are taking care of your friends' dog -- and took the dog along for a lil' adventure!