I mentioned earlier that our previous boat was a Catalina
34, which we sailed and raced extensively.
However, sailing our 50’ full-keel ketch is significantly different, and
made me wonder if just the two of us would be able to handle her.
We hesitantly pulled away from the dock with friend and
Shoreline Yacht Club Rear Commodore Bruce Davis. Having waxed the zipper on the stack pack and
adjusted the reefing lines the day before, the bag opened up and the main
raised easier than the previous time, when it took four of us to get it up. We were off to a good start. We let the jib out and off we went. 
It was a beautiful day with light winds of 6-12
knots. As heavy as our boat is, I think
she would much prefer 15 knots and higher, but she handled well, and sailed
relatively quickly. We handled her with
ease and when Jason easily brought her back to the dock after our 3-hour
cruise, I again knew that we had made the right decision.
Anytime you have something new, it should be expected
there will be a learning curve. We had
one when we upgraded from Jason’s Catalina 27 to our Catalina 34, and we’re
having one again. Next time we move
up…no, this is as big as it gets for us.
I
have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams,
and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with a success
unexpected in common hours.
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
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