Sailing in Fog - A Humbling

[Captain Smollett]

Got a lesson in sailing in fog today; wrote a cool, poetic story about it, too, and my bleeping browser just 'died' before I could hit submit. >:(

The short version is this:  Dropped the sails when the wind died after being out on the lake a couple hours in the rain.  Visibility was about 200 FEET, but I had left my ship's compass on a shelf in my office at home.  Dumb, I know, but that's what happens sometimes. :-[

Anyway, I found out just how terribly bad I am at steering with no landmarks to see and no compass.  When I said "I really need a compass," my wife mentioned that our First Aid Kit contains a hand bearing compass and I used that to get us back.  Wow.  When I first sited the shoreline, we were nowhere near where I thought we were, and I have an really, really good sense of direction (most of the time).  We were in an area of the lake new to us, so I even when I could see snippets of the shore, I did not recognize it (there are some parts of the lake I'd recognize individual houses, docks and boats).  Though I knew precisely where I was when I dropped the sails to motor back, I got completely turned around while motoring.

So, here's to you, all of you, who sail successfully in fog.  :)

(And no, I won't be going out to buy a GPS this week). 

The good news is this was Jonathan's First Sail!  :)  He's 7 months old.  HIs 3 yo sister Hunter first sailed at 7 weeks (she sat in the cockpit with me today, even in the rain).

[CapnK]

So, you wnet for a boat trip, and wound up getting to eat some free Pie, eh? ;)

Way to go on Jr's first trip! Way to raise some SAILORS! ;D