Spring Maintenance -> Launching -> Rigging -> Shakedown

After 4 months in my driveway, Wampum got back in the water on Friday April 29th. It was a hectic week leading up to the launch. After work, many hours were spent wet sanding her bottom, and doing annual maintenance on the Yanmar 2gm20F diesel.

                                     

That night we stepped the mast and installed the bow pulpit with some help from a local construction crane. On Saturday April 30th, we brought the boat from Great Harbor into Eel Pond. We rigged the lifelines and boom with the help of Fred Denton, Sam Moore, Sarah Fuller and Trudy Crowley.

Once she was mostly rigged, it was time for a shakedown sail. The forecast of 8-10 turned into 18kts (8+10), A fully hoisted main sail, suddenly made us feel over powered. We took a reef, set the small #3 jib and felt the boat balance out.

Wampum sailed downwind into the bottom of Great Harbor and back upwind into Vineyard Sound where the easterly wind was blowing straight against a strong flooding current causing 3-4 foot stacked seas. Immediately after tacking to head in we heard a distinct TWANG! as the lashings on the starboard check stay let go. We dropped sails immediately and motored in past Nobska Light with big smiles on our faces.

We caught the last bridge into eel pond at 4 PM to conclude an excellent sunny first day of sailing. With only 3 weeks until the Wednesday Night Twilight series in Marion begins there is still a lot to learn!