Albeit for only an hour if that….
Bob asked our dock mate who has been a Gozzard owner for more than 15 years, first with a G31 and now with the same boat as ours for the past 10 years and has been sailing in the Chesapeake longer than that, to come along and give pointers on navigation markers and the best ways to navigate the harbor in daylight and evening and channel with less risk of running aground. We didn’t raise the sails but did motor out of the channel.
Our dock mate also helped Bob approach (and almost hit – but we’re not talking about that) the pump out dock, and then maneuvering into our slip a couple of times letting Bob get used to using the bow thruster to control the direction of the boat in tight quarters.
We only ran alongside a piling a couple of times taking up some wood with it….but no harm to the boat. More things to practice and learn.
The process of getting the boat ready to sail took less than an hour from boat total disarray, to tidiness with everything stowed safely for minimal breakage with sudden and surprising movement, and the air conditioner unit stowed in the truck. (We have purchased a “portable” air conditioning unit that sits in the forward hatch to help make life in the marina more comfortable during the hot and humid summer. The unit has to be removed and stowed from that position when we want to go sailing.)
We wanted to do a thorough below deck preparation even though we weren’t sure if we would be raising the sails, just so we could get practice in the processes and figure out what we still haven’t considered. (Now…where did I hide the coffee pot? And let’s not let the wine bottles potentially break.)
Coming back to dock took a bit more effort to get the boat ready for life at the marina. The biggest frustration was reinstalling the air conditioner. We tried to “improve” the previous setup to only finally learn and acknowledge no improvement was necessary as we couldn’t get everything situated any other way….lesson learned, and now we know without a doubt the first way is not only the best way, but the only way it will work. Once that was done in the heat of the day with what seemed like 100% humidity, Bob stayed busy getting the sail cover back on and the canvas covering the windshield, while I went down below to make lunch and have a cold beer waiting for him.
Things learned – with the windshield in place Bob and I can not hear each other….so a set of “marriage savers” are in our future – that is how they are marketed too. Basically they are bluetooth headsets for us each to wear so we can talk to and hear each other from opposite ends of the boat handsfree without having to yell or rely on hand signals that may or may not be seen by the other to communicate status, impending danger or changing plans.
Next time out we’ll plan to raise the sails, and see what new surprises and lessons await.