1st Sail

[Gary]

Hi Folks:

Just a happy person here.   After purchasing (a new to us 1992 Com-Pac 27/2)
and then moving it over two motorsailing days  to it's new home (with a professional Capt.) from Grasonville, MD to Regent Point marina in Topping, VA., we finally took it out of it's new slip yesterday afternoon for the first time.

Since moving it down the Chesapeake Bay over Sept. 16th & 17th we've been busy on it every weekend with inventorying, cleaning and addressing a variety of small items to fix, upgrade, etc.

On a beautiful day yesterday, after lunch, we fired up the auxiliary diesel and headed out into the Rappahannock River through the "thin" water, dodging crab pots all the way until we were in the main channel with deeper water.  We're about 4 miles up river from the Chesapeake Bay.  We then headed up and unfurled the 135% Genoa and were just under hull speed right away.  Therefore, having been out of sailing for 36 years I did not see any need to raise the main.   I'll walk before I run.   At any rate, we were moving nicely and with the auxiliary shut down, the peace & quiet brought back some of what we decades earlier had really enjoyed about sailing. 

Played around for about an hour and  half and then headed back in to ascertain if I could actually get this boat back into our slip.  I hasten to add that our slip is the 1st one next to the land/pier interface (a really nice protected location) but I thought would be a great challenge to get the boat into it by ourselves.

I wanted to back the boat into our slip for many reasons, and as it turns out, by merely going dead slow, and seeing just how much the stern walks to the port when in reverse (and it walks a lot) success was at had on the third attempt.   Didn't hit anything, didn't scare anyone, and by the third attempt (actually only took 5 minutes from the 1st attempt, although it seemed like more at the time) we greased it in perfectly.  Fortunately, had someone on the bow to hook the bow lines (I forgot that I could have hooked them while backing in and had them then passed forward - that's 36 years without sailing) and I hooked the stern lines.

Very pleased with ourselves.  The boat's reusable and so were the passengers.  Also, being a pilot it brings to mind the difference between a good landing and a great landing.   A good landing is one you can walk away from it and a great landing is when the equipment (aircraft) is also reusable.

Hopefully, we'll get a few more opportunities to sail it yet this month and next before winterizing the auxiliary and putting on the winter cover.

Didn't mean to go so wordy folks, but it was a great day and it's nice to be sailing again and also watching my wife (Kathy) at the helm.   BTW, it's "fun" getting to learn how to use a wheel as opposed to a tiller.   I prefer a tiller (but no choice on this boat) and don't really understand why wheels are put onto boats under 35 ft. in length.

If you see us on the Rappahannock River or the Chesapeake Bay (boat is "Celestine", Topping, VA) please say hello.

                                                                                      Regards,

                                                                                       Gary

[don l]

I am new to sailing, but it has been wonderful to spend time with the wife and of course, good books.  May your happiness be unlimited. Will soon be 60 years of age, and retired military. 

don

[Gary]

Hi Don:

Welcome to sailing, and what do you normally sail?   What branch of the military?  I was in the USN from 1960 - 1964, but not surface fleet, rather in Naval Air.    Lockheed P2V's, 2 turning & 2 burning, and yes occasionally one was burning.

60 is young, as I passed 65 this year and my wife will pass it next spring.   Still working in the aerospace industry.  Actually retired 15 years ago but got bored after 2 years, so jumped in the aerospace field about 10 years ago.  As long as I enjoy it and the health sort of holds, will continue for a few more I think.

At any rate, enjoy sailing and your wife and it's nice that you enjoy it together.  That's the best way !

                                                                                              Regards,

                                                                                                Gary

[don l]

Gary,
Only boat I have sailed is the Com-Pac 16.  I did take a sailing course I think  on a J-22.  My wife and I,  just sailed this pass summer.  The boat is now out of the slip and at dry dock at the marina,.  We sail in Colorado where I retired.  I was in the Army, Infantry.  Raised on the Bayou in the Mississippi delta of Louisiana.  Worked as a young man on the Mississippi tugboats and trawl boats, but that was a long long time ago.  I truly like this website, they have been very kind to this Cajun, and his poor English and hard to understand question.

May all winds,  be to your point of sail.

don

[mrb]

Hi Gary and Cajun

Sounds as if it should be congratulations to both of you. One returning to sailing and one new sailing.

Cajun, where in Louisiana.  My wife is from Belle Chase and I have live from Buras, to Mandeville.  Wife and I lived on west bank are of N.O. and once lived in Lafitte a mile from end of road.  Sounds as if your sailing season has ended.

Gary, Mandeville was the connection to Cape Charles and the bridges.  The company that built the road bed was based in La.  Same company as built the Lake Pontchartrain causeway.  They would build the sections in Mandeville then barge them to Virginia.  I never got to cross the bridge as the ferry was still running when we went there and when we left still ferry ride as bridges still need finish work.  By the way,  were you ever at Milton Fl.  Whiting Field

Fair winds to both of you     mrb

[keeljoy]

Gary,
welcome to the world of Com-Pac 27/2, moved up from a Catalina 22. We have a 1994 that I bought in Fla and had it trucked to NJ where we sail on Barnaget Bay and Toms River. Still a couple of weeks of sailing left.
Funny thing, I also was in Naval aviation and flew as crew on the P2VH as a be-be stacker                         ( ordanancman ) at NAS Willow Grove.Pa,from 1965 till 1968, went to engineering school in Fla and just retired from Sikorsky Aircraft after 36 years as a senior airframe designer.
Small world.
Regards
Keeljoy

[Craig Weis]

Keeljoy, and Cajun, we have a friend in the local Door County Sail and Power sq'd. [see link below] named Jerry who was a Navy Aviator left seater in P2V's mostly in the Mediterranean Sea. 
Jerry retied as Captain for United Airlines on L-1011's, and other heavies on the overseas route. Lives in Sturgeon Bay now.
Quite a charter IMHO.
Jerry Tells the story of sub chasing in the Med and being particularly high scored that day.  "...should we ask the submarine skipper  to turn 'off' his navigation lights? Na!"
Please give our USPS club a look~see.
Our Port Captain Markuss has a wealth of information on site. skip.

[don l]

mrb,  yes, Lafitte is where I was as a young lad, all my mother's  family are still there.  Sorry about the late reply.  If it had not been for skip, I would not have caught your reply. Thanks skip.  Oh, Gary, now 60 moving to 100 years old. <grin>  I have cabin fever bad.  Have done a lot of reading, about sailtrim, got to go find out what I learned.

cajun/don/dlg