|
Hull #37 Thought you might get a kick out of this. Some friends asked us to take their wedding party from their wedding to their reception last May. Party of 11 in tuxes and gowns plus Staci and I. Trip was about 5 1/2 miles. We borrowed some extra life-jackets, emptied all but the center water tank, and cleaned up for company. We had the boat waiting for them at someone's house near the wedding.
Also, just a quick story about how the MaineCat 30 has been received by the local boaters on this stretch of coast. There really are no other Maine Cat 30's in our immediate area so it is something the other boaters haven't seen before. We were coming in Hurricane Pass (between Caladesi Island and Honeymoon Island just north of Clearwater) about 7:30 PM last Sunday night. A fantastic setting sun was lighting up our sails from behind, a 10 to 12 knot breeze from the NW and we were gliding along the channel running along the Dunedin Causeway Beach. The causeway was leaving us very flat water in spite of the breeze. Lots of people on the beach and several boats in the channel. Over the course of about 1 mile, we had three different boats circle us and complement the boat and ask who made it. We also had a couple of cars pacing us along the beach taking pictures and several people standing in the water along the beach within hailing distance of us as we passed telling us what a beautiful boat we had. The day before we had sailed north about 24 miles to Miller's Bayou in Port Richey to meet some people for lunch. Going into that spot is one of the longer "no wake" channels around here and, being Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, it was very busy. With the "no wake" channel, all of the boats were getting a good long look at Tiger Moon and it seemed like everyone was standing and turning to watch her go by, waving and giving us the thumbs up sign. We felt a little like the homecoming queen sitting on the back of the convertible in the parade. There just aren't many boats that inspire that kind of reaction from people. You should be proud, not only of what a solidly built and well designed boat this is but what a graceful beautiful boat it is on the water. |
|
We expected to motor the whole way. But, I was pointed straight out
the canal, due west, with a westerly breeze about 15 knots blowing in
our face. We knew that the trip was going to be, 100 ft. run to the
west, followed by about a 3 mile run straight south in the ICW, a tact
to the NNW for about 1 1/4 miles and a final run straight south to the
Clearwater Beach rec center of about another mile. A 15 knot west breeze
was too good to pass up.
It was too good to pass up. I hoisted the main at the dock and as soon
as the party arrived we motored out to the channel, turned south,
unfurled the jib, cut and trimmed the motors up.