Threading The Needle

The deMello Camp
44 25.85 N 073 23.38 W

The camp is working out well. With 4 adults and 4 kids it would be impossible for all of us to stay on the boat. Using the camp, and mooring Tarwathie near by allows the best of both worlds for a week.

Another factor is when and how to sail so that all enjoy. With 8 people, it is not surprising that we have a diversity of views about what is fun and not fun. Actually, things have split into only 3 camps. Not too bad.

Group 1 includes Sara and Victoria. They are fair weather sailors and they get very uneasy if the boat heels more than 5 degrees.

Group 2 includes Libby and I and John and Nick. We like to go fast, and heeling to the point where water spills over the rails.

Group 3 includes Cheryl and Katelyn. They are on the fence. They want to belong to group 2 but they lack total confidence yet. Katelyn also turns out to be a natural helmsman. Without any instructions at all she is able to hold a dead straight course under power or under sail. I think she'll make a fine sailor.

So, how do we satisfy all needs? With a little bit of each. Actually, circumstances and weather helped us along. On Thursday, it was sunny, warm and winds were very light. All 8 of us sailed up to Schuyler Island and went ashore for an exploration. Everybody enjoyed it.

On Saturday, John had to go home to work a day. Cheryl went with him. Libby and I had charge of the 4 kits. It was sunny and warm and winds were moderate. We took the whole group and sailed across the lake to Burlington and back.

On Sunday, it was cool and threatening rain. We left group 1 at home, and took the others out. They were hungry for challenge and technical practice. We sailed to Burlington and back once more. However, this time, as we went along, the wind kept getting stronger and stronger. It started at 8 knots, any by the time we returned,it had increased to 25; quite a difference. That gave opportunity for good practice. We double reefed the mainsail. Then we managed a gybe. Finally, on the way back we also reefed the jib. It was a wild ride indeed. Thanks to our aggressive sail reductions, Tarwathie never got hard to control, and we were able to maintain 7-8 knots anyhow using only 1/4 the sail area that we started with. It was a great technical lesson -- clearly demonstrating that less sail is better than more when the wind blows hard. While we were doing all that, the hundred or so other sailboats in sight disappeared from the lake, or dropped their sails to motor. The entire crew enjoyed the euphoria of having met the elements and emerged as master.