One of my favorite cruising sailor friends stopped by here on his annual migration south, for a visit and a sail. He travelled south from his Vermont home in the woods, to Florida, via kayak! (The kayak, is strapped to the top of his Audi station wagon). In Florida his cruising sailboat is waiting for him and he will transfer the kayak from the station wagon roof top, to the boat's side deck, and make his way thru the Bahamas, maybe even down to Bonaire over the next 5 or 6 months.
He was a former Venture 21 owner and it was fun to see him experiencing "De Ja Vu, all over again", as he puts it. We had a very nice sail and it being my second time out on the boat, it was another step in the learning process of this particular boat. A forecast for light air couldn't keep the wind from blowing a good force 3 or 4 out on the river. We had a very nice time. We put the stanchions on in the water when we failed to release the main sheet soon enough in a gust, but other than that it was beam reaches and catching up while just messing about on boats.
We marveled at how much plastic and finance was tied up in the marina, while we were out enjoying a beautiful fall day sail in a boat that cost less than some of the annual maintenance costs on the boats who's owners were, at that moment, in at a job trying to pay for them. Ventura is rough looking right now, with green moss still on the decks from a year of sitting. The paint and gel coat are faded and chipped. The bottom is almost barren of anti fouling paint. The wood, all 4 pieces of it, is grey. But she doesn't leak, and the rig is standing and she is a great little magic carpet for me. There is room below for me to sleep, and eat and read, and even room for company.
After the second sail, I like her twice as much. That is a good trend and even if the trend goes no further it is enough for me to know that finding this boat was fortunate (Ventura) for me.
My friend helped me to realize that the main sail the boat came with is actually from a Buccaneer. It is old and without reef points and a bit under sized so a new sail my be in our future, should one come our way! We set the smallest foresail which was the jib that was supposed to be set on the inner stay, on the forestay, as I don't have an inner stay rigged. It turned out to be just about right for the weather conditions and our attitude for the day.
It is lovely and unusual to have a hand on board. It does make the whole experience that much better, especially when it is a good friend, and especially when it is a good friend who knows the ropes!
Thanks for the visit Dean and fair winds to you.
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