First Adventure!

Although there is still work to do on the boat, it was time for my first adventure with my boat (I like the sound of that - my boat)

Yesterday was one of those Chamber of Commerce days and I had the good fortune to spend it on the water in small boats!

I left Sacramento under blue clear skies and 35*. An hour and a half later, I was in Richmond, CA, under the same blue clear skies and about 55* and warming.

Getting ready:



Underway:



We launched at Marina Bay located in the Inner Harbor in Richmond, CA. I rowed while Thorne (WBF followers will recognize the name) sailed. 90 minutes after launching, I arrived at the Point San Pablo Yacht Club. Thorne arrived about 30 minutes behind me. We had a great potluck lunch (my contribution of oysters with crackers and homemade truffles was well received!).

The Goat Island Skiff rows well - and will do even better once I practice a bit more! I'm also getting help with some ideas on installing foot braces to help with the rowing. I borrowed 8' oars yesterday but my own (there is that word again - my) oars are 9' and the longer length should help, too. I need to finish shaping the oars and then prepare myself for varnishing them... I'm getting help with that, too.

After lunch, I crewed on a Whitehall.



We had a blast! Of course, we had an adventure. An H-28 shadowed us for the afternoon (that skipper's small boat is not quite ready... ).



While our plan - after a fun day of sailing - was to row in (the owner of the Whitehall wanted to see how it behaved under two rowers), The H-28 offered a tow back to the club. Since the Whitehall owner had never been towed before, he opted for the tow.

So, 2 or 3 minutes into the tow, my Tilly hat blows off and overboard. Okay, so we cast off the tow line and retrieve the hat. The H-28 comes around to pass us the tow line - and runs aground (on a falling tide!). He worked himself off, passed us the tow line and proceeded to the docks. Could have been an expensive "lost" hat.

It felt really good to be on salt water again (not sure what the difference is - not that I object to fresh water. I just feel better on salt water.)

Looking forward to the next adventure!