Wisp gets wet

[Jeff Benagh]

On Saturday [9/20] we launched our Shellback. A link to a picture of my son (3 1/2) and I sailing it is attached. He "helped" a lot with the building so it only seemed appropriate that he & i sailed it first.

I am tremendously indebted to the the folks at Wooden Boat and this forum for all the help, inspiration and advice. Although I am presently the newest member of the forum, I have been a regular lurker since early 1999 (when the building page was only one page long and we were on the earlier ISP).

The launching part was wonderful. About 25 friends showed up and my wife, Betsey, chhristened her "Wisp", with a bottle of Bass across the bow. We gave rides to the 6-10 children in attendance and called it a day, since there wa almost no wind (the boat caught enough to create a wake though, so Joel knows his stuff...). the other pictures are availble throught he link if you are really interested.

Today I got a chance to re-learn how to sail in 10-20kt winds -- what a blast. I hadn't really sailed in about 20 years. Wisp handled wonderfully -- the skipper less so, but I never put the lee rail actually _under_ water.

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/betseybenagh/vwp?.dir=/boat+launch&.dnm=Img2003-09-20_0009.jpg&.src=ph&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/betseybenagh/vwp%3f.dir=/boat%2blau nch%26.dnm=Img2003-09-20_0008.jpg%26.src=ph

[Ken Hutchins]

Real nice!! smile.gif smile.gif

[videoguy]

Jeff She's a real beauty nice job!!!... smile.gif ..Phil

[Leon m]

SWEET !

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ae4faa7d/bc/boat+launch/Img2003-09-20_0009.jpg?bcpv6c_AbXp8bnVJ

[Bruce Taylor]

Congratulations!

[Bill Dodson]

BRAVO ZULU!!

[Hans Lassen]

Great! (Both boat & family ;) )Fair winds,
Hans

[Ed Harrow]

Congrats. Nice job! My Dad was from Melrose, class of about 1927 or so, can't remember exactly.
Best, Ed

[Bob Perkins]

Nice Job!

Have fun smile.gif

[Paul Scheuer]

Well done Jeff & 3-1/2. And thank you to the most important participant, the photographer. Nice job.

[Buddy]

Son, ( not "sonny": I don't know how to do the smiley faces) I am sitting here looking at a very similar photo of my youngest daughter and I in restored El Toro she also "helped" me do.
Your's is a beautiful...... situation. I too have a Joel White boat, and so very much admire your wonderful crftsmanship invested in so worthy a design. But the real beauty is sharing it with your family. You really can't appreciate the worth of the experience without the perspective of time.
I don't believe I can tell you how fast the time passes. "Miss Mouse" the El Toro is still at home out back waiting on the next bunch of Scouts, but Miss Mouse, my now 23 1/2 year old daughter, lives on the other coast- or right her in a happier time in this picture. Amazing how much love a boat can hold.
Thanks for sharing your very important day with us her at the forum.

[Jeff Benagh]

Thank you all for the kind words. My brother took the best pictures. I took some of him hoisting the sail, but he got the action shots.

This is a truly remarkable group: looking at where those who responded are located shows that we are a world-wide network of fanatics ;)

The launch proved that there is something special about wooden boats: at least three people (who we didn't know) came over and said "wow, beautiful boat". The best one was a guy who, during the inaugural sail, sailed his boat over to the cove we used for the launch specifically to compliment us. As we sailed, I wondered why he was trying so hard to get over to our spot (I ended up paddling the last 50yds with the centerboard because the cove was entirely becalmed). He yelled across, "I saw it out there and had to tell you -- you should send a picture to Wooden Boat".

I look forward to meeting you on the water some day. I hope to sail around Salem and Marblehead harbor before the season ends. Failing that, I will definitely be at the Wooden Boat festival next July.

[Art Read]

I somehow missed this in all the rush surrounding our own launch the other day. But something Ismael remarked about a launch day in the thread I posted stuck with me and it seems appropriate here too. "It's a rare thrill... Get the most out of every minute!"

TERRIFIC job!

[Bernadette]

Jeff your boat looks so good, she's real nice! I can't imagine anything more exciting for your son than having his very own sailboat...yipee!!!!! I'm sure he will be pestering you every spare minute to take her out!!!

[ 09-30-2003, 05:23 AM: Message edited by: Bernadette & David Hedger ]

[Rogue Sailor]

http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/ae4faa7d/bc/boat+launch/Img2003-09-20_0009.jpg?bcuTge_A1qr5bnVJ :D

[Concordia..41]

That's a beautiful boat and a beautiful story. She'll certainly see you through many joyful sails.

Congratulations on coming out of the "lurker class." - How in this world could you silently build such a sweet little boat while all the rest of us blather on so????

Regards -
Dave & Margo

[Wild Wassa]

Congratulations Skipper.

Warren.

ps, A tricky lake to find wind on. I see two wisps, ... or maybe one. Back to the wind, Skipper.

[ 10-01-2003, 01:50 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[ahc]

Nice job, Congrats!

[MARK@NOVASCOTIA]

Fine looking job, I have my shellback to the sandpaper and paint stage, will do the mast and sail over the winter for a spring launch.I've been a lurker for a long time as well but seeing someone else building a shellback made me decide to register and say CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Have Fun