Congratulations on your purchase and first sail, Allen. Sounds like it went real well for the first time out. Your patience was rewarded with some breeze and you didn't break anything! Several of us on the list can't claim that. Learning curves can vary, obviously. It sounds like you've done some sailing before and know what you're doing. Too bad, but not surprising, about the centerboard. Lots of the older boats like ours have had that problem. The e-mail archives are full of postings with suggestions on how to repair it. Enjoy your boat and the "fix her up" process. It can be as much fun as the sailing. Well.... maybe not, but it's better than most other things. Larry Yake M17 #200 CornDog (recently renamed) "In a power boat you get there faster. In a sailboat you're already there."