FIRST TIME ON A H-14 AND FIRST TIME SAILING THIS YEAR

WELL I WENT TO PYMATUNING RESIVOIR 4/23 BECAUSE I HAD A WET SUIT AND I REALLY WANTED TO SAIL AND SO MY DAD AND I PACK THE BOAT UP THROW IT ON THE TRAILER AND HEAD 20 MILES TO THE LAKE. THERE ARE SEVERAL CLUBS UP THERE AND I WANTED TO SHOW OFF BUT I WASNT ALLOWED BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT UP THERE WE FOUND OUT MY FOR-STAY WAS HALF STRENGTH 3/6 OF THE WIRES HAD BROKEN, MY DADS SAID STAY CLOSE TO SHORE AND HE LET ME GO SOLO BECAUSE HIS WET SUIT WAS TOO TIGHT AND HAVEING 350 POUNDS ON THERE WOULD HAVE WEIGHT ME DOWN SO I COULDNT FLY A HULL SO. SO MY FIRST TIME SAILING AND I SOLO. I HAVE BEEN CREWING ON A THISTLE SO I KNOW HOW A MONO SAILS BUT IT IS NOTHING COMPARED TO A CAT BECAUSE YOU ARE ALLWAYS WORRYING ABOUT PITCH POLLING SO IT WAS FUN AND I DIDNT TIP IT BUT I DID COME REALLY CLOSE. I ALSO HEARD MY DADS STORY OF HIS 16 WHEN HE PITCHED AND DIDNT KNOW ABOUT IT. SO I KEPT IN MIND TO WATCH THE LEE HULL, AND CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT PICTCED BY SHEETING OFF AND HEADING DOWN ( I WAS CLOSE HAULED WITCH I HEAR IS PREATTY RARE IT MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN YOU ARE GOING DOWN WIND OR ON A BROAD REACH.)



MARK
H-14

Get the forestay replaced ASAP. Also, check the rest of the rigging. You may want to replace it all just to be safe. Not much is worse than dismasting.

On another note, welcome to the club!

_________________
Nick

Current Boat
In the market
Previous boats owned
'74 Pearson 30
'84 H16
'82 H18 Magnum
St. Louis, MO

I second nick, after personally experienceing a dismast, and ripped sails, and trashed pride... there isnt much worse an experience than a dismast.

and like nick said... welcome to the club

luke