Notes From the Helm

Every so often.....

Every so often, I get blown away by a group of people that go out sailing with me. A few days ago it happened again. Although every sail is special and the people are great, sometimes a group just stands out.

The day of this sail, the marine forecast for Fort Myers Beach was for a small craft advisory with winds blowing 20-25 knots and gusting higher at times. I had a morning half day sail scheduled at 11am but the party canceled after I told them of the conditions we would be sailing in. I understood their concerns and took the time to do some boat maintenance on Star of Orion while watching the weather for my sunset cruise with the group pictured here. Although I left a message with this group about the conditions, they did not receive the message and arrived at the dock ready to go sailing. Here's the best part..... When they arrived, I told them that the seas would be a little rough, the winds strong, the temp chilly, and the boat would lean. They looked at me and said "don't we need wind with a sailboat?". I immediately fell in love with the group. I fired up the engine, threw off the dock lines, and away we went out to the Gulf of Mexico.

I wish I knew more about these folks because I happen to think that they have some real pirate blood in them. With a double reef in the main sail and the jib rolled out half way, the boat still did 5-6 knots in 4-5 foot roller-waves while kicking up some salt spray. The thoughts of sea sickness for my guests began to creep in my head only to be removed by the question "When are we opening up the wine we brought?". Awesome!

Even this young lady pictured here couldn't stop talking about how much fun this was. After a few glasses of wine and some pirate talk (Ha!), she blew the conch shell with the power of 20 salty sailors. Impressive! The rest of the group also took turns at the conch shell with everyone doing an impressive job except one gentleman. Everyone laughed at his expense, but I saw the look in his eyes afterward....the look that tells me he's out buying a shell right now to practice for next time.By the way, this young lady was so cool that those sunglasses never came off even as we arrived to the dock in complete darkness. Pirates beware!

I'll never forget this sail with a group that surely is the life of any party they go to. Sailing the Gulf of Mexico never disappoints! Come back and see me soon. I still can't wipe the smile off my face.

Fair Winds,

Capt. Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com

 

Adventure Happens!!

Yep, That's Me! Half way up the mast, strapped to my top-climber boson's chair, tied to my spinnaker halyard, with a boat-hook in one hand, and my other hand holding on for dare life! Ha!! Magic Wind Adventure Sailing....for real!

You might ask, what going on here? Let me tell you a funny little story.......

 

So this really nice family pictured here comes sailing with me for a sunset cruise. We motor out to the Gulf, turn into the wind, and I begin to raise the main sail. The sail goes half way up and stops. I look up and find that my halyard has wrapped itself around my steaming light on the front of the mast. I lower the sail and unhook the halyard in order to try and "whip" the line loose from the steaming light. That doesn't work. I tie another line to the halyard with a big knot in order to try and "saw" the line loose from the light. It was actually starting to work...till my knot came loose and left the end of my halyard dangling half way up the mast! Now I really was sweating bullets.

So after a few minutes of sailing with the jib only, the oldest gentleman in the group suggested that if I had a boson's chair, they could hoist me up. Problem was, I only had a spinnaker halyard on the front of the mast that I knew nothing about. I didn't know if it was strong enough to hold my weight (245#s) and if the folks doing the winching were strong enough and aware enough of the concept of hoisting a person up a line using a boat winch. But in the spirit of adventure, I said "what the hell!". I strapped on my boson's chair, gave the folks in the cockpit the low down on winch usage, tied on the spinnaker halyard, and put my life in their hands.

Little did I know as they began winching me up the mast that action photography of my ordeal was being taken. Here's a pic of one of my guests winching with all his might trying to get my big arse up the mast while the rest of the family is pulling for dare life on the tail end of the rope. Ha! I honestly didn't know that so many good shots were being taken. Needless to say, I made it halfway up the mast and recovered the loose end of the halyard and made it back to earth safely. Laughs were had by all. I'll never forget this sail.

The other great couple on board (pictured here), I think they'll never forget this evening either! The look of shock is priceless!

Later that night I called Capt Ron to tell him about the events of the evening. He paused...then told me "you went up on that line?". "That line is held at the top of the mast with a pulley held in place with two little screws!". "You are CRAZY!".

Sailing in Fort Myers is always an adventure.

I've never felt more alive!

Fair Wind,

Capt Dan

www.sailmagicwind.com