Wednesday was a big day for us. We finished our 7-week Boating Safety course with an average score of 99.5%! Although the course is not required in California, we figured we should have some idea how to tie knots, read navigation aids and plot charts, etc. But this news is small news compared to what we accomplished earlier in the day.
After weeks of frustration with the Atomic 4 engine (broken starter, clogged carburetor, etc.), Ben adjusted the timing and got her purring like a kitten. And we finally left the mooring ball for the first time by ourselves! WHAT A RUSH!
Thankfully, the mooring ball to our starboard side is currently unoccupied... that made the task a little easier for us. Once we managed to untie her and back her out, we headed towards the dock with the pumpout station. We came up a little too quick on the first run so we decided to turn her around and motor around the outer edge of the moorings to get a feel for the boat and the engine. Once we figured out how fast and far we'd drift in neutral, Ben coasted us up to the dock and I jumped off the boat to tie her off. We took turns taking pictures (see below), pumped her out, washed the deck and headed back to the mooring ball. The pressure was on coming back into the mooring as we have an audience of homeless people watching from the land. (They were probably there when we left the mooring ball but we were too preoccupied to notice.) We got her in, tied her off and had a cocktail to celebrate our achievement! (But who really needs cocktails when you're running on pure adrenaline. There is nothing like it!)
Now that we feel confident the motor will start every time... and we have an idea of what is involved in getting into and out of our mooring, we will be taking her out much more (hopefully with some of the experienced sailors we've met who live out here on the water). We will post pictures of our experiences as they happen...
Ben @ the helm
An unobstructed view of San Diego from the bow of Mother Culture
Ben cheering for a job well done
Pirate Ben... Aargh!
Me on the bow giving a Thumbs Up
Me again...
Mother Culture and Me at the dock
Lola showing absolutely no interest
Ben I knew you were possibly gay, now the dog!! U R too "Gaytaygious"!! ; ) What up Pimp, It's Terrence!!
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