High seas adventure!

... well maybe not high seas, exactly.

I went on a sailboat for the first time yesterday!

It was a 19-footer, just like these ones here.


This is my friend Rand. He's the one who took me out.

Hi Rand!

He's been sailing for awhile now. He'd been wanting to take me sailing with him sometime this summer (to make me stop bugging him about it), but weekends lately haven't always been perfect weather for it. But yesterday was sunny with a light breeze.

Everyone has to wear a life vest in these boats.

What do you mean, "Extra small"?!

Then there's all kinds of prep tasks to get the boat ready. I don't have any pictures of this part because the main sail kind of ended up in my lap for awhile. Anyway, Rand took care of everything there, though I think I unclipped the main sail from its bag (yay me!).

Actually, the wind near the docks was so light that we got towed out a ways so we could catch a breeze.


And once we caught a breeze, it was soooo nice and cool!



Rand taught me some sailing terminology. He had me pulling on jib sheets and cleating and uncleating in no time (a little clumsily I might add).

There is a lot of boat traffic in that harbor -- other sailboats, motorboats, cruise ships. It kept Rand busy.

Hmm, is that boat gonna move or do I have to?

But during some calm moments, Rand showed real courage ...


... and gave ME the tiller! Hah!

I gave it back to him when we noticed a freighter coming in behind us (!!).

It was a really great afternoon!