marshcat
05-26-2008, 10:08 PM
Took my three kids sailing for their first time ever on Sunday. We were on the Corrotoman River, a tributary of the Rappahannock near the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. This is the second season I have owned the boat, but the first time I have taken everyone out.
Leaving the dock with five on board - three kids and two adults. The catboat turned out to be exactly the right daysailer for us right now.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec46084d7a3bf00000076100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
Under way. My neighbor lets me keep the boat at his house on the river, and they followed us out and took pictures.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4601b52e3ed00000095100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
Not exactly a bone in her teeth, but there was plenty of wind to introduce a 9, 7, and 4 year old to sailing.
The kids were a bit apprehensive coming out of the creek into the river, but after we roller-coastered through the first powerboat wake they were stoked. The only problem was that my visions of a serene sail with them peacefully trailing their hands in the water turned into "There's another speedboat Dad, try to go over his wake!"
My middle daughter using her great grandfather's 7x50s - stamped "US NAVY BU. SHIPS MARK I MOD. 2 NO. 17687 1941".
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4616cb402d400000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
Some antiques should be exercised, and these are great, simple to use binoculars. She and her two sisters are the fourth generation of my family that likes to spend time on the water. The first two generations (my father and grandfather) spent their time courtesy of the US Navy.
Saw "Desperado" when we were coming back up to the creek. He said "Nice boat", and all I could think of to reply was "Yours too", which felt a little inadequate.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4610b1142da00000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
She was stunning. I also exchanged hellos with the graceful "Andiamo," whose owner I believe frequents this forum. Hello again. Sorry I did not say more as we passed, but I was busy quelling bladder related unrest in the crew while threading my way through the anchored boats at the mouth of the creek.
Happy crew returning up the creek.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4612b3342e800000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
It was the best day possible to introduce them to the boat and sailing. Decent wind, not too hot. I took the advice of some on this forum, and let them take the tiller any time they got bored. The only glitch was a sticking centerboard problem that I still need to resolve. It started late last season, and was worse on Sunday. I had to push down on the centerboard with a spare chunk of 1x4.
Feel free to critique anything you see in the pictures (except maybe my family), as I am still learning.
Pulling up to the dock, with my wife at the tiller. It was very important that the day went well for her, as well as the kids.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4619423830f00000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
This turned out to be one of the top five days in my entire life.
Leaving the dock with five on board - three kids and two adults. The catboat turned out to be exactly the right daysailer for us right now.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec46084d7a3bf00000076100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
Under way. My neighbor lets me keep the boat at his house on the river, and they followed us out and took pictures.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4601b52e3ed00000095100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
Not exactly a bone in her teeth, but there was plenty of wind to introduce a 9, 7, and 4 year old to sailing.
The kids were a bit apprehensive coming out of the creek into the river, but after we roller-coastered through the first powerboat wake they were stoked. The only problem was that my visions of a serene sail with them peacefully trailing their hands in the water turned into "There's another speedboat Dad, try to go over his wake!"
My middle daughter using her great grandfather's 7x50s - stamped "US NAVY BU. SHIPS MARK I MOD. 2 NO. 17687 1941".
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4616cb402d400000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
Some antiques should be exercised, and these are great, simple to use binoculars. She and her two sisters are the fourth generation of my family that likes to spend time on the water. The first two generations (my father and grandfather) spent their time courtesy of the US Navy.
Saw "Desperado" when we were coming back up to the creek. He said "Nice boat", and all I could think of to reply was "Yours too", which felt a little inadequate.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4610b1142da00000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
She was stunning. I also exchanged hellos with the graceful "Andiamo," whose owner I believe frequents this forum. Hello again. Sorry I did not say more as we passed, but I was busy quelling bladder related unrest in the crew while threading my way through the anchored boats at the mouth of the creek.
Happy crew returning up the creek.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4612b3342e800000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
It was the best day possible to introduce them to the boat and sailing. Decent wind, not too hot. I took the advice of some on this forum, and let them take the tiller any time they got bored. The only glitch was a sticking centerboard problem that I still need to resolve. It started late last season, and was worse on Sunday. I had to push down on the centerboard with a spare chunk of 1x4.
Feel free to critique anything you see in the pictures (except maybe my family), as I am still learning.
Pulling up to the dock, with my wife at the tiller. It was very important that the day went well for her, as well as the kids.
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8db07b3127ccec4619423830f00000066100AaNWblszYuG IPbz4K
This turned out to be one of the top five days in my entire life.