No it's not a gathering of cats! It's a catboat race, or more accurately, a catboat parade. We signed up at Arey's Pond Boat Yard a couple of months ago, itching to have a date to test our sailing skills on the winter project Skerry, "Zeppelin". We've been fussing with her since her launch at the end of May, adjusting things like how to keep the yards close to the mast, (parrels for the yard, and a wrap of line for the boom), how to make the downhaul easier to adjust (a block and line, rather than just line to the cleat), how to keep the mast from squeaking (added a sock to her foot, before inserting the mast into the step). All these things have made her handier and more comfortable to sail.
So how did we do? We haven't seen the official results yet, but we figure we came in 3rd from last. Catboats are a lot faster than our skerry, even when close to the same length. We did pretty well, considering how light our boat is, and how inexperienced we are sailing her. We got a lot of nice comments from the fleet, for Norm's rowing out the channel, and the inherent beauty of the boat. Z came along as crew, and had a great time. He is becoming a very good sailor!
Our bowman! Z called out the other boats during the start. There were about 100 or more boats milling around the start line, to start in 3 classes. Not for the faint of heart!
Norm trimmed main, and took a turn at the tiller in this pic.
Zach and Tab, Alicia and Stos, and Marina, went out in a friend's powerboat to watch the parade of boats. Everyone had a grand ole time.
