Sailing: Take One (and Two)

We've gone sailing a couple times now... so I'm posting some pics from our first two journeys. We tacked back and forth around the bay until the wind died down and then we headed back to the mooring ball. Thankfully, each time we were accompanied by a different experienced sailor, allowing us the opportunity to learn two different perspectives (and without too much worry!) Next time we will probably give it a go by ourselves.







Pictures from Voyage #1

Me at the helm


Me at the helm with Charlie


Ben adjusting the boom


Ben at the helm


The Stars & Stripes (America's Cup Winner 1987 & 1988)





Pictures of Voyage #2

Ben and Scott on the deck


Ben working the tiller


Ben working the tiller while Scott pulls the sheet

One Giant Leap

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

Humdrum

Things have been slow lately. We are finishing up our Boating Safety class this Wednesday. Our engine has been out of commission, so we haven't been able to leave the mooring ball yet. We've been meeting a lot of the locals and some of them have offered to go sailing with us, which means free lessons! YAY! But until the engine is working consistently, we won't be going anywhere. (It's too tricky to get in and out of the mooring without a motor, especially for two novices like ourselves!) The Beer Can Races are held every Wednesday night in San Diego Bay and one of our neighbors has invited us along with him and some friends. Hopefully, we will be able to join them next week... once we finish our boating class.

That's about all that's been going on. We're just learning all the ins and outs of boating life... and there's a LOT to learn. The life of a sailor is a slow life and luckily Ben and I blend right in. (Much different from our east-coast upbringings!) Hopefully, I'll have more to say in my next post. Until then...

Photo Op

Here are some miscellaneous photos:

Here is a view of Ben at the top of the mast:

Here is a view that Ben took from the top of the mast:

Here are two pics of Lola with her short summer 'do:

It's A Girl!

This is Mother Culture. She is a 33ft. Islander Sloop, built in 1966. She is moored in the San Diego Bay, right near downtown San Diego. We are living aboard and our new home offers the best of both worlds. We are walking distance (after we dinghy to the dock, of course) to downtown San Diego and we have an awesome view of the city. But (more importantly) since we are living on the water, we don't have to deal with all the wackadoos in the city. (With the exception of one wackadoo named Cider Jack who happens to live on the bench on land just about 15 feet from our boat... but luckily he can't get any closer to us). I have included some pics of the boat (note the view:)) and I will be chronicling our adventures here. But please don't hold your breath waiting for pictures of exotic places. First, we must learn to sail!