A shakedown breakdown

I took her out for a shakedown sail on Saturday.

The first mishap took place when a idiot in a center console sped through the mooring field, raising a huge wake. When I stumbled in the cockpit my foot broke the key off in the ignition. Couldn't turn it with a screwdriver, either.

Being from Haverhill, MA, means that not having a key is no obstacle to starting a motor vehicle.

I motored out past the Icebreaker and then raised sail. Or rather, I tried to raise the sails. Wolf has an in-mast mainsail furler which proceeded to jam with the main halfway out. By working the furling line and the clew line back and forth and applying some (read: all of) my strength I managed to get the main out without doing any damage. I tested refurling the main and sure enough, it didn't jam. I think flaking on the main in a wind might have created a crinkle or two that caused the jam.

Between the main and the club-footed jib Wolf moved surprisingly well, especially given the light air. The loose-footed main is pretty sweet.

I was instantly comfortable at the helm, and we made good ground up and down the channel even against the outgoing tide.

(I was especially careful around G15, as years ago a crew-member grazed that can with the Maria Jane. Just a glancing blow, thank goodness, and the only damage was a green streak that she volunteered to remove after the boat was hauled. I still feel sort of bad having taken her up on that offer...especially when Crazy Paul came by with some beer and we both watched her work.)

After a couple of hours I decided to head back to the mooring. Since the mooring is on the other side of the Gillis Bridge I called for a lift and was told I needed to wait for an ambulance to cross.

I avoided a boat full of drunks who crossed my bow while fishing their shoes out of the water (and casually pointed out to them that A) Wolf weighs a lot more than their putt-putt boat, B) isn't as nimble in tight quarters and C) get off my lawn), proceeded under the bridge as it opened...

...and heard the temperature alarm go off. A quick peek over the stern revealed no cooling water in the exhaust.

Seeing as I was just starting to proceed under the open bridge, motoring against the outgoing tide in a crowded harbor, I did the only thing I could. I muttered 'Fuck me...' and sort of laughed.

I made it under the bridge, cleared the railroad bridge, and then shut the engine down and dropped the hook. My mooring was about 500 ft away. There was a round of applause from the onlookers at Cove Marina after I dropped the anchor, so I took a quick bow before calling Towboat US.

All in all, sort of a pain in the ass kind of day, but I spent a few hours under sail, so it was all good.

Turned out that the raw water impeller went bad, so Monday I replaced it (with Clive performing his part as a member of the peanut gallery) and the engine runs fine. The ignition switch replacement (with spare key) should be delivered by Friday.

Wolf sailed like a dream.