Author:  Pete

Location:  Traverse City, MI
[44° 46′ N, 85° 37′ W]

DAY 3:

After a little breakfast on deck in the morning sun we started class by tearing through the boat in the morning opening all panels and looked at systems.  From stem to stern we opened panels, traced wires, discussed potential problems and fixes.  Never jammed so many people in such a small space.  I think I hear the clown-car music…

Had lunch in the cockpit in the sun at dock.  Spent the afternoon working on navigation in the salon.  We covered the basics of reading charts, what symbols meant.  Practiced plotting courses and the like.

Took the boat out for a sail and polished our navigation.  Discussed and demonstrated rules of the road, and honed our crew overboard technique.  I thought about suggesting a good pirate mooning pass on the tourist tall ship Manitou, but I decided against it.  This isn’t Cartagena after all.

Back in the marina Captain Dan took us aboard several different monos-hulls (regular type sailboats, as opposed to ‘cat’ catamarans) to get the feel for various layouts.  Some were geared more towards living comfort, others for better sailing performance.  In some I couldn’t tell what the main focus was.  I think some boat designers drink too much.  It’s been said before, every boat is a compromise.

Cleaned ourselves up in the nice marina showers.  My parents came down from Charlevoix, an easy hour drive, and took us out to dinner at the North Peak Brewery.  Less sea legs today as the water had been pretty flat.  I preventatively had a couple pints to ward off any nausea just to be safe.  We all had a good deal of beer, ribs, fish, and fun.  Tried to walk off some of dinner on a stroll through busy downtown Traverse.  Back on board we had the best sleep yet.

DAY 4:

Started off the day with our ASA 103 test.  Gathered in the marina lounge and took it early to get it out of the way.  Pulled a 95%, despite our groggy state.  I missed the following question:

7)  If your boat is taking on water through gaping hole in the hull should you:

a)  Issue a Pon-Pon to the coast guard, put crew in lifejackets, turn on bilge pumps, and plug the hole.
b)  Keep on sailing.  Sinking is for sissies.
c)  Run around the deck flailing hands above head as international sign for ‘No Idea What I’m Doing’.
d)  Get off the boat immediately.  Better to be swimming in the drink than on a boat with some water inside.

Blue skies gradually gave way to gray ceiling. Took the boat out for one last go around to cement our skills.  A touch wavy and blustery, and none too warm.  But we donned rain jackets for the light spits of rain and we were fine.

On our return we stopped to pump out the holding tanks and refuel.  Ah, a glamorous life for sailors.

Said goodbye to the Clara Mae, our trusty 31′ Hunter.  Passed it off to Steve and Matt, our sailing compadres, who took it out for charter in the following days.

Played tourist walking around downtown Traverse with my parents for an hour or so and had a celebratory dinner out at a great smokehouse to wrap up our second set of sailing courses. Headed back to crash out aboard our new boat for the 104 course.