Posted by Peter Devlin (devlin_peter@…>)
Hi friends.
Although, for the most part, this site has functioned as a forum for
experienced sailors to exchange information pertinent to sailing
Freedom-21 sailboats (I have benefitted greatly from this exchange),
I have also enjoyed the occasional story, by members, of a particular
sailing trip or plans for a sailing trip. “Hearing” about what people
do with their boats and where they go is very interesting to me. In
case there are any members with as little sailing experience as I
have but with enthusiasm to sail and find out what the Freedom-21 can
do I’ll relate a little story.
Last year I bought a Freedom-21. I spent the winter learning about
DC electronics and wiring the navigation lights. I also had the
compass re-built, got a new VHF and wired the radio and antenna (I
knew nothing about this stuff one year ago—thank you Nigel
Calder). I took a navigation course with the Coast Guard Auxilliary,
and in May I took an intensive sailing course (40+ hours over 4
weekends) on a 30 foot Pearson out of Marblehead harbor. On May 21
I “splashed” Graceful Rose at a Marina on the Merrimack River in
Newburyport, MA. Although some of the summer was spent learning about
river navigation, and how an outboard motor “works”, most importantly
I have sailed, and it is fun!
This last weekend I singlehandedly sailed from Newburyport, 18NM to
the Isles of Shoals. I picked up a transient mooring, took a swim
and spent the night—my first–aboard Graceful Rose. The next
morning I hoisted sail and, with a brisk (10-15 knot)north wind
sailed back to the mouth of the Merrimack in about 4 hours.
You guys who have been sailing a while already know how fantastic it
feels to go somewhere on your boat, but for me this was an experience
which was hugely satisfying in a way I hadn’t anticipated.
There is a lot I want to learn, but this past weekend gave me a taste
of some real fun times to come.
The nagging question now is what to do about this pesky job of mine.
Cheers,
Peter