"The smaller the boat, the more interesting the crew...: - Arthur Beiser
Sometimes small adventures can be the most fun.
My friends Ed and Doris purchased a Tanzer 22 named Alway$ $omething from my friend George, who bought it from my friend Paul (who moved up to a Catalina 27, which he aptly named Alway$ $omething 2). Being novices, they were initially leery of doing too much with the boat other than going for day sails while they learned how the boat handled.
[Actually, I was familiar with the Tanzer 22, having sailed it with George one glorious day in Newburyport harbor, racing around the inner harbor with all the sails up. She's a fast boat if you handle her properly.]
One day I decided that it would be nice to sail up to Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, anchor off of North Beach and have lunch, a nice, stress-free sail. They wanted to go along, so I suggested that all of us sail up there, have a picnic, and then sail back to Newburyport.
So we did. It was a nice day with light winds. I anchored the Maria Jane, they rafted up to us, we had lunch (and essential element of sailing, cans of ice-cold beer), and then sailed back. It was fun and a nice confidence-builder for Ed and Doris.
These are the pictures of that epic 8 mile sail...
Approaching Hampton's North Beach; Boar's Neck is on the port side.
First Mate Kathy looks forward, wondering if all the yelling I did helped set the anchor properly (it did).
Ed and Doris raft up to the Maria Jane. Yes, there are lines everywhere.
After lunch, Alway$ $omething motors away before raising the sails.
Despite the light winds, we managed to pass Ed and Doris on the way home.