It is official, She is the Memory Maker!!!!

July 8th, Sail #8

 Well we were faced with a tough decision last night. Stay home and cut wet grass or go to the lake and sail? Glad to say it was unanimous decision, sailing we went!!! The wind was still blowing at 5 pm and after checking weather it looked like it was going to continue for a while yet so we quickly packed a few beverages in the cooler and took off for the boat.
 We knew with our up coming trip to MI it would be our last chance to go sail till we got back so we took advantage of the opportunity. I had surprised Cindy when she got home with new decals for the boat with the boat's name, and our info on it. The sailing association requested we put or info on the boats so if there was ever an issue they could get ahold of us quickly. Not a bad idea knowing anything can happen. So after loading everything up and getting the sails rigged we had a lil naming ceremony and made it official

She is now officially the Memory Maker! Seeing how she was nameless when we got her we did not have to pay tribute to the sea gods and pour a perfectly good bottle of booze into the water and ask for there blessing to name her. Good thing too as Cindy doesn't like to pour out perfectly good booze LOL!!!
 Heading over to launch I had Cindy practice backing the trailer up some. She is getting better and like sailing she just needs to do it more before she is totally comfortable with it. We had the ramp to ourselves so I had her back us down as well. She did a great job and with just a lil assistance at the bottom she got us to the water with no problem. The launch went smoothly and I picked my pretty lil Capt up at the dock before heading out into the lake.
 Keel down then sails up, we were sailing again!

 The wind was fairly light as we were still behind a tree line but we were moving along under sail. I went down below to do a few chores. For some crazy reason we both felt like we needed a clock we could see from the cockpit so we got a small digital car clock and I put it up under the cabin top. You can see it in the center of the companionway opening under the lock tab on the sliding top. Now that we have it we are not sure we like knowing what time it is LOL! I got us beverages and while Cindy guided us along I went about putting new line on my spinning real. Lets see those fish wake me up again jumping and splashing all around the boat in the morning. I am ready to put a dent in the fish population again!
 As we got out in the center of the lake and clear of the tree line the winds picked up and we were sailing right along. As we approached the south shoreline I asked Cindy if she wanted to try a tack by herself. She said she would try so I went down below and turned the cockpit over to the Capt. I reminded her to be smooth but swift with the tiller to make she sure she had enough turning energy from the start to complete the tack. She did just fine and after readjusting the jib we were headed back across the lake. I am so proud of my pretty li Lady and how far she has come. We are still working on her sailing vocabulary but she is really doing a great job with the boat.
 We tacked back to the south and upon reaching the south shore Cindy was going to "tack" again. So I went down below and let her have at it. Well instead of pushing the tiller away from her she pulled it meaning either she was going to gybe instead of tack or she was confused. I told her she was going the wrong way to which she relied that she was not. After a lil back and forth it was decided that we were both right. She went the wrong way to tack but she really wanted to gybe and go a different direction. Kinda gets back to I am still working with her on her sailing vocabulary issue LOL!
 On our new heading we on a broad reach with the wind abeam us on our port side. There were a few stronger gust from time to time and Cindy is still a bit apprehensive when the boat rolls into a nice heel angle. After watching her a ride out a few gust I made a few suggestions in hopes of helping her manage the boat a little better. I showed her how I sight down along the wood rails on the cabin top. It is like looking down a rifle barrel then and all you have to do is keep your reference point in line with rail. I showed her how to anticipate the gust and the ensuing heel angle. With a better feel for the wind and a better sight line it was much easier for Cindy to keep the boat's heading more constant. What was causing her fits was that when a gust would hit the boat she would get behind it and in short order it was off heading. Then she would have to make a large rudder input to get the nose to come back around to get back on track. That would add centrifugal force into the mix and between that and the heeling movement from the wind the boat would just roll more with wind causing it to heel over even further. Once she put all the pieces together and anticipated the winds and it effect on the boat better the sailing was much smoother and the heeling was much more controlled. Fortunately Cindy does not get bitter or defensive when I try to teach her something so it makes it really enjoyable to help her out and see her confidence and ability continue to build. We both have the goal of getting her to where she can sail it with her friends at some point and I feel with each sail we take she is getting closer and closer to that goal.
 It wasn't long before Cindy's brain was fried and I needed to shut with all the technical BS and let her relax a bit. I took over and let her get a beverage. We tacked back to the southwest after a long north easterly run across the lake and Cindy took up position in her happy place

 I love when she lays her head in my lap and puts her feet up. I can drive the boat with one hand and stroke her soft hair with my other. Talk about living the good life!!! There is that darn clock in the pic again. I think we are going to be moving it LOL! I mean really, who wants to constantly see what time it is when you are playing????
 It seemed like time was going by in double time as it was not long before the sun started to fade and it was time to head back to port

 I talked Cindy through starting the motor while I dropped the sails. I can't say enough how much better the sail slugs slide in the track with a lil WD 40 sprayed on them. The sail just drops on under it's own weight when you release the halyard now. So much nicer than having to yank the sail down the track. I read yesterday that anyone can raise a sail but it takes a sailor to drop a sail. I am far from a sailor but I have to agree it is usually much easier raising them than getting them back down for several reasons.
 Each time we go out we learn all sorts of new things. Like last night we learned that the weekly Tuesday night fishing tournament ends right at 9 pm. Guess when we were heading in??? Yep, 9 pm! After hoping off the boat at the dock I heard them all coming back in as I got Pearl and headed over to get Cindy at the ramp. I tried my best to hurry but the gate to the sailing association was already locked so I had to get out, unlock it, get back in, pull through, get back out, lock the gate, the get back in and get over to the ramp. Luckily I got there before all the boats had finished dropping off their fishing partners to get their trailers so I got backed down first. But Cindy had a log jam of bass boats to work her way through to get to the trailer. I just stood their quietly and watched her do a fabulous job of working her way through traffic like a Nascar driver with new tires working his way through cars with 40 laps on their tires. After clearing the last boat she made a turn for the trailer and lined it up perfectly. I guided the nose into the slot, hooked up the winch strap and brought them on board. We were loaded and headed back out as the first bass boat trailers got to the ramp! Words could not describe how proud I was of Cindy for not getting rattled by all the traffic and for how good of  job she did lining the boat up with the trailer. Once she starting line up multiple objects in a straight line between her eyes and the trailer she has nailed it each time.
 We headed back to the parking area and put our trusty lil ship to bed and said good by to her as it will be a week or more before we can come back to take her out again. I know Cindy likes to travel and see things but I would be perfectly happy spending my vacation right there on water with her and our Memory Maker. I am a pretty simple guy and I don't need much to make me happy. The love of a beautiful, caring, and super fun lil lady and something fun to keep me occupied and I am perfectly content. I am happy to say that I have found them both in Cindy and our Memory Maker!!!!