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06/25/2002, Beach Pond, Griswold CT
After the trip, the boat on the trailer, de-rigging in progress. |
| Click image to view full size. |
Bulleted items link to anchors at the head of each story on this page...
With just the boys and I, we started in the same spot as the previous time. It was about 4PM at the start and overcast. The skies looked very threatening and it had rained earlier in the day. The winds were light and shifty. The tide was near low, more than a foot lower than the previous outting at this location. After launching we sailed on, or near, a beam reach back and forth the river numerous times. We didn't venture too far above or below the ramp. We spent the final 15 minutes practicing dock approaches.
We launched from the private ramp just upriver of AES Thames (power plant) at around 4:30 PM. We noticed a friends car in the parking lot, so we were looking for him and his Sunfish. We initially went upriver looking for him, but after about 1/4 mile we turned and headed downriver. The wind was from the south (downriver), so we had to beat down. We continued until we were just north of the Submarine Base marina before we turned back. Almost as soon as we started running (literally) for home, the wind died (nearly zero). As we ghosted along, we finally saw the Sunfish heading down from upriver of the ramp. We broke out the paddles so we could arrive before they could leave without seeing us. We were fortunate that the fit-out pier was busy and they turned to sail away before returning. This gave us a better chance to arrive while they were still at the fit-out pier. We engaged in lively conversation while we de-rigged the boats and waited for our turn on the ramp. It was now about 7:00 PM. The ramp had been quiet when we launched, but it was definitely crowded at recovery. But we recovered, completed stowing all parts and headed for home (and subsequently out for dinner).
After our initial success here, we made several return trips. Most were late afternoon trips with 2-10 mph winds. The first return trip was with just myself, Emmet, and Ryan (my two boys). The next return trip was with all four of us (two boys, wife, and myself). The best wind was the latter trip with long stretches of 10 mph winds. A couple of times we even had to hike out a bit to keep from capsizing.
We had our first good sailing event. We packed up all the necessary accessories into the van and towed the works to Gardner Lake in Salem, CT. We waited in line at the state ramp for our turn to launch. While waiting we rigged the boat, except that we didn't raise the jib as before (main raised, jib down).
About the time we were ready to sail away from the beach (rocky, no dock), we realized that the earlier wind had subsided to barely a breath. But we shoved-off anyway and paddled away from the beach. We lowered the rudder and the daggerboard. After a few minutes, the wind picked-up and we started slipping along. We sailed back and forth a couple of times before the wind really started to fill in nicely.
Once the wind became steady and strong, we headed up the length of the lake. We cruised up the lake past many a motor boat with people "tubing" or water skiing. The wind strength ebbed and filled periodically, but not significantly during this leg. When we reached the far north end of the lake, we turned and ran back toward the ramp. We weren't even halfway back down the lake when the wind significantly subsided. And when we were within a few hundred yards of the ramp it completely died. This wouldn't have been so bad except that it was a sweltering 98°F day and the lack of wind made it worse.
Eventually we paddled into the shore. The line to use the ramp was 3 to 5 cars deep. We waited our turn and then recovered the boat. Once recovered we pulled up and out of the way to de-rig. Then we headed to a nearby friends house (the one who'd bet me prior to the 6/25/02 event) to brag about our success and show off the boat. Then it was home to pickup the kids for dinner.
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06/25/2002, Beach Pond, Griswold CT
After the trip, the boat on the trailer, de-rigging in progress. |
| Click image to view full size. |
With the kids away at my in-laws, my wife decided to take our "new" boat for an after-work sail. This was partially motivated by a bet from a friend at work, based on his belief that I wouldn't get the boat in the water this year. So we loaded all the necessary components in the van, connected the trailer, and headed off to find a peaceful sailing location. I had a few spots in mind, but wasn't sure which of the inland ponds would make the best sailing location. I decided to give Beach Pond a try. Beach Pond overlaps both Exeter RI and Griswold CT. The boat ramp is in Griswold CT.
We arrived at the boat ramp by 5 PM. We rigged up the mast and the main. We rigged the jib, but left it lowered. We attached the rudder, and loaded the boat with the various other accessories. Then we backed down the ramp and launched the boat. My wife tended the boat while I parked the van and trailer.
Now we were ready for the real fun, or were we. I hopped in the boat and paddled clear of the ramp (too tight to sail). But when I went to lower the rudder, the linkage broke (articulated for kickup system). I was upset, but there was nothing we could do. I paddled in to the ramp. My wife tended the boat again while I retrieved the van and trailer. We recovered the boat and de-rigged it. Then we travelled home.
In the cold light of home I discovered that I'd swapped screw locations when I reassembled the rudder after re-varnishing it. I put the short screws in the higher stress location. I quickly found replacement screws and re-assembled the rudder. Now we await our first "real" sailing adventure.
<sigh>
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