Adventures in Learning (or) Bareboat Certification

[Lost Lake]

I'm back!!!

What a great time I had in Ludington, MI sailing on Freedom, a Hunter Legend 37.5. My instructor was Captain Dale Fitch, a very calm and nice man, who never had a bad word for anyone.

I took the three classes with a friend of mine, Ken, who always talked about his sailing adventures, but I came to find out they were all on a 14' sunfish type boat with a single sail. He wasn't quite as ready for these classes as I was.

We arrived on the Badger ferry at 6 pm and Dale met us at the dock. He transported us to Freedom and we put our gear on board and looked around a bit while he called his wife to see if she was up for dinner with the boys from Wisconsin. Luckily she was and I recommended a brewery I had spotted on the way to the boat. Game on, we picked up Carolyn and went to eat.

The brewery in Ludington is an excellent place to eat and have a few wonderful beers. I figured if the first three were good, the next three would be better, and the three after those would be just marvelous! I was right, and after I spent $60 on beer and an appetizer, I was poured into the truck and driven back to Freedom.

The morning came waaaaaay too early, and I downed a few aspirin and met the sunlight. I was in the aft berth, Ken took the front, Dale wisely slept at home. Nothing was said of my night of imbibing and I almost thought I'd get away with my indiscretion, but later that night I would hear Carolyn tell me how I kept saying, "Bring on the storms, I love high winds, we'll have a ball!"

This was Thursday morning, and we prepped Freedom for departure. Weather was forecast to be bad through Sunday (hence my bravado after several ales) but we would sail no matter what. We worked on motoring around, docking with iron wind, and sailed a bit into Lake Michigan with 8 - 10 knot winds. This day went quickly, then it was back to port, secure the sails and boat, and back out for dinner at the yacht club. Dale signed us up for a $7 grill-your-own-steak and they were really wonderful steaks! Two beers later an older gent named George said he was taking out his power boat for a late buzz around the marina. We were welcome to come along, and everyone was gathering their coolers of beverages, but I thought I'd lay low this night, try to make a better impression on my new friends.

Dale dropped us back at Freedom and I walked to take a shower before bed. Rain was forecast and I thought I'd beat the weather. The Marina in Ludington has a fantastic shower and restroom facility, but from Freedom's slip it was a half mile walk. Not bad in nice weather, but a real long way in the rain or when a pile of onion rings is being worked through your system by 10 pints of beer. 

Okay, Friday! Back out to the lake, sun shining (oh, to be a weather man and only need to be right half the time) time to practice 'man overboard'. We threw this poor man windward, leeward, aft, every which way that we could chuck a throwable preserver. Most of the time we had him back on board in less than a minute. We saw something floating in the water and sailed it down to find it was a bottle with a note in it (or at least a wrapper) but lost it before we could find a way to scoop a bottle from the lake. Lots of practice today with tacking and jibing, using proper commands and working as a crew. We learned more systems on the boat like proper use of the stove and head, the ice box, diesel care and troubleshooting, hull repair, just all kinds of things. When we got back we took our Basic Keelboat test and I am happy to say I aced that one!! 

Dinner Friday was at a pizza place with more great beer, and then off to another yacht club. (Do all yacht clubs have $1.25 beers?) Lots of laughter and talk, we found out old George just got his powerboat and it was fun to rib him about when he 'used to sail'. He lamented that after sailing for 60 years, he takes a break for a bit and now he's not a sailor!     I got him once by asking what sails used to be made form back when he sailed.....  All in good fun, and we all had a great time.

I wanted to look around town so while Ken hit the bunk, I walked uptown. The Macker was in town, I had no idea what it was, but learned the Gus Macker was a basketball tournament of sorts for charity. It is a huge event! I walked about 5 miles just looking around town, then a mile back to Freedom so I could get some shuteye.

Saturday, We tested for the Coastal Cruising exam and I passed with a good score. I made a couple clerical errors and a bonehead error too. Then we stocked Freedom with bratwurst (we're from Wisconsin after all) and headed to Pentwater. The forecast was to be 2 - 4 foot waves, 20 knot winds with a small craft advisory coming out in the afternoon, turning 3 - 5 with 25 and thunderstorms. Needless to say, it was beautiful sailing into 18 knot winds all the way to Pentwater. We found anchorage and used the stove and grill to prepare dinner. A storm did come roaring in from the west and in our protected harbor it was quite amazing to watch. Ken commented he hadn't watched a storm since he was a child. One of life's simple pleasures! The wind was gusting to 30 knots and I was really glad we were protected from this storm. Rain came down in sheets. It cleared after an hour and we had a beautiful evening. A few beers and we went to bed around 11.

Sunday, we took the dingy to breakfast at a diner and then prepped Freedom. We were really a crew now, we all knew what to do, and what was expected. Motor to the anchor while running the windlass, ready the main, switch to batteries 'all'. Fire up the diesel, turn for the canal leading to Lake Michigan.  BUT WAIT !   What did I see ahead? A sailboat! Headed out 1/4 mile ahead of us, his genoa already up, motoring. Ken was at the helm, I urged him to run the rpm's up a bit and let's give chase. Dale was a racer for many years, and he smiled a big grin, Ken said that was ridiculous. 

Up until this point, I overlooked Ken turning to port when Dale said to turn starboard, and Ken heading up when we need to turn down, but at this very instant I began to wonder if he was truly cut out for sailing.    Every sailor I know gives chase, and by now we saw the boat in our sights was a Hunter 34, about half the weight, a little less sail, and 1/4 mile ahead. Dale read the boat's name and knew the skipper, an old racing man himself. I went below and put on a life preserver, I told the boys this was 'gonna get serious'. Dale laughed, but he was surely in with me. The 34 turned out of the channel on a broad reach with just his genoa. We turned South into the wind and I hoisted the main faster than I have ever hoisted a main sail. Dale barked "Head to Starboard" and Ken turned to port towards the sea wall. "The other Starboard!" Dale yelled, I guess he could raise his voice! Ken brought us back around, and we unfurled our genoa.

Ken manned the helm, and fought the waves so much that we zigged and zagged port and starboard. Dale commented that the 34 skipper would surely think we were in distress and maybe turn around, allowing us to catch up.    Went below and put on a sweatshirt, winds were 20 knots and cold, and the waves tossed the boat a bit, making walking in the cabin a real challenge. I came topside and offered to relieve Ken so he could get a jacket on. Ken agreed, he looked a bit pale, really stressing out at this point. I used the 34 to point Freedom and caught the 34 quite quickly. As we passed to leeward, the crew on the stared at us, then turned about and raised their main. They looked short-handed and probably didn't really want the main up, but they were just passed and I knew how they felt!

They never had a chance, our bigger sails and longer waterline prevailed. The 34 tried to tack and catch a faster point of sail, but we held a steady 6.7 knots almost true to course. WOOOHOOO!!  Back into port, drop and stow the sails, motor back to the marina for a head pump-out and tie up at the dock. We took the final Bareboat test and I did well again, although this was the hardest of the three for me. A few celebratory beers with lunch and then we scrubbed down Freedom and covered the instruments. Dale received a phone call, it seems some friends had shown up and were raiding his refrigerator at home, so Ken and I not wanted to be a burden asked him to go do his thing while we looked around town one last time before the ferry took us home.

Neat town, Lundington, MI, and we shopped some eclectic places. A light dinner and a walk back to the ferry for an 8'oclock departure, and we were ready to be home. The ferry takes 4 hours to cross the lake, then I had a 2 hour drive home. It was great to be home, and now I have some wonderful memories of sailing the Hunter Legend.

My little CP19 was so small in front of the shop when I pulled in that night. I don't know if I'll keep her or trade up, with 3 kids and a first mate. I'd kind of like to have more of these kinds of adventures and the 19 just isn't big enough for all of us. 

I guess I'll play it by ear! 

[DOUG142]

Welcome back home we missed you.

Great story and sounds like quite an adventure.  Did you study alot before you went on this?

Welcome home.
Hope to see you on the lakes.
Doug and Linda
Summer Escape
Burlington, Wisconsin

[Lost Lake]

Hi Doug,

I did read three books on sailing and then studied the two manuals that the ASA provides. The three tests had a total of about 500 questions, ranging from easy ones like 'what is a mast', medium ones like 'who has the right of way between these two boats' to what I thought were difficult ones like charting courses and times between points with varying winds and currents.

There were a lot of technical questions, "can you call a commercial towing company on channel 16?" (yes, but you can't discuss your request, you must change the channel), and "is there a serviceable impeller in a closed cooling system?" I got that one wrong, there is an impeller that pumps raw water around the closed system, but technically it is not 'IN' the closed system.

I highly recommend the classes, my total cost was $900. I stayed on the boat four nights, five meals were provided, and it was great practice doing things we normally don't practice.

[Mundaysj]

Welcome Back and thanks for a great post!!  It sounds like a terrific class and certainly reasonably priced. 

I'm just wondering if I can ask you to take it easy on the Kens of the world.  I would have had his same response to racing the other boat.  There are sailors in the world who have no interest whatsoever in racing, but that doesn't make their love for the sport any less than your own... just different. 

A friend recently said that Racing Sailboats is an oxymoron.  (He is a power boater)  I would disagree and it seems to take quite a bit of skill to maneuver when you have just the wind and whatever direction it chooses to blow.  I take my hat off to all of you who do race.... I only ask that you appreciate those of us who choose not to!  (We'll gladly stay a out of your way on race day!! ) )

[Bob23]

Lake:
   So wonderful to hear of this recent adventure of yours. I've been thinking about doing the bareboat certification thing for a while now...but it's on the back burner along with a number of other things.
   On giving chase: Down here in NJ the unwritten rule is that when there is more than one sailboat out, there is a race. I don't race formally (yacht club) although some friends do. My father-in-law, the estimable Mr. Otto Hansen of Surf City, NJ, decades ago raced Lightnings at the Surf City Yacht Club, won for a few years back in the 50's but got tired of the political bs. Now he just sails for fun. He still is known as the Bay Fox. His boat was named "Time and Tide" and the word on the street was that just like tide and time, Otto Hansen waits for no man. He is quite a sailor with over 75 years experience and I'm priviledged to learn from him.  When he speaks, I listen!
   How did I get off the subject?
   Oh, yes, racing. The reason I don't race is that I don't want to think of sailing in terms of minutes, seconds, first place, second place...you get the idea. I love it and plan on continuing to do so for as long as I can crank the winches. I love navigating, boat repair and maintenance and all the rest that goes along with it. I don't want to measure the fun level by the race results. Of course, the flip side is that one's skills are honed tremendously and one gets to share all kinds of info and exchange experiences. I'll stay away from the $1.25 beers, though. Give me a few cold Guiness's and a great cheeseburger and I'm happy! (Maybe in paradise!)
   Again, off the subject.
   When I see another ship out sailing, my natural instinct is to give chase. I've been pleasantly surprise at how fast my 23 is. I know they are not supposed to be fast but I pass more than I am passed. Of course, I don't think it's my skill, although  I do comprehend how to make her go. The 23 is a fun boat to balance and is still small enough to have weight placement affect the handling of the boat.
   Bob23, getting ready to sail today! Down here in So. NJ, the general weather forecast is not great for this 4th of July weekend so I'll take advantage of the weather when it's nice.
   Carpe Diem!