First Sail of 2019

Sailboats on Elliot Bay

 I'm pleased to say after 145 days dry I've had my first sail of 2019. Faithful readers will no doubt recall my sojurn to Seattle a few years ago where I took a lesson in Beetle Cat and truly fell in love with that classic design. Well on this years family vacation I did it again. And it was wonderful. As soon as plans were set and hotels were booked I emailed the CWB and requested another hour with an instructor and their Beetle Cat. I figured sailing in the region in the middle of March would be fine. The trip was multi-legged, with a visit overnight in Portland before we headed north to Seattle.
 Day one saw us traveling west and south from our home base in the Big Sky Country. Lookout pass was predictably awful but my mothers car got the job done.

The Pony-First steam locomotive in Oregon. Cascade Locks, Oregon.

Bridge of the Gods. Cascade Locks, Oregon.

 Our mission this day was a bit more search and destroy then usual. I wanted to visit the SAGE Center at Boardman Oregon to learn more about modern agriculture and timing was cruical. Our hour there was wonderful and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling along I-84. The simulated hot air balloon ride was excellent.
 Evening found us in The Rose City and the zoo was our goal the next day. The Oregon Zoo was wonderful. Great habitats and they have a train ride.

Mountain Goat

Bald Eagle

Lioness

Lady and the Pride

 

Zooliner

 Following our foray at the Zoo we spent an hour at the Chinese Gardens before returning to our hotel. The next day was our trip north, with a stop in Olympia for a tour of the stunning Washington State Capitol. And then it was Friday, Seattle Day.
 Seattle started early with the first showing of Superpower Dogs 3D at the Boeing IMAX. Only way to get here was monorail. The film was everything you expect from a proper IMAX presentation.

Heading to the Seattle Center.

Even the poster was huge!

 Then it was time for a sailing lesson. We arrived at CWB early and I checked it. Due to a miscommunication my instructor was out with a sailing class. This did give me ample opportunity to view the sailboats, seaplanes, birds and assorted watercraft.

Blanchard Jr. Knockabout out on Lake Union.

Classic DeHavilland Beaver starting it's takeoff run.

Lightship Swiftsure under wraps for the season.

 The boat I'd chosen, as I had last time was the Beetle Cat. My goal this time was to be a bit more aggressive in my application of knowledge and to ask questions that pertain to our upcoming July trip. As I waited I took some detail photos and examined this classic boat from every available angle. If the Lido 14 is my go to choice for a first trailer sailor then my first on the water choice must be the Beetle Cat. Simple to rig and safe to sail. All these small boats teach sailing, not necessarily boat management like can happen in some larger goats. And you can own one if you know where to look!

The Beetle Cat.

Gaff Jaws

Awaiting Adventure

 Eventually the Lightings and Blanchard Jr's came back in and I was introduced to my instructor. Ned Flash has done the Atlantic by tall ship twice and enjoys the small boat fleet at CWB. We paddled the Beetle over to a far dock and set about rigging for our hour on the water.

Prepping to row to dock.

Ned rowing, I on the helm.

Rigging begins. This was the first time the boat was out since a severe winter storm a few weeks previous.

Alas and alack! There was a tear. But it was below the first reef line!

Adding the reef.

Sailing off the dock.

Tacking out.

 I'm very pleased to say I remember how to sail. It seems silly now or course but that was my biggest worry. Well it was all needless. I tacked, I gybed, I beat, I ran. I was again reminded of how nice a Beetle is and what it really means to feel connected with a water craft. The slight tug of the tiller due to the famous weather helm. The feel of the sail as it filled. The way you really have to pay attention with the rig and what happens when you get to greedy with the mainsheet. It was truly a great afternoon sail. Nothing trying our out of the ordinary but a great reintroduction to being under sail once more. In addition to knowing the boat well, Ned was also a great conversationalist. We talked and agreed that small boat sailing needs to be a greater gateway to sailing then many seem to give it credit. That the ability to buy and sail your own boat is in much closer reach then anyone thinks. And that places like the CWB (And groups like my own WMSBA) need to show people that sailing is for everyone. I hope that those young people in the class prior to my lesson know this. And that their foray into sailing can go from an afternoon activity to a hobby or a lifestyle.
 It was over far too soon. But now the fire is rekindled once more. I long for the feel of my tiller in my hand and the wide open horizon in front of me. It's going to be a great summer.